Wilfork has seamlessly transitioned to a 4-3 front and has been by far the Patriots best defensive player this season. ", 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. He was also one of the best kick blockers ever and the best of the 2000s by far with 17 blocked place kicks. 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. Joel Steed will come . When done correctly, the nose tackle acts as a space-eater. 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. Some of these positions are universal to whatever scheme youre playing, while others are only specific to one scheme such as a nose tackle. However, until that time, he is without question the best nose tackle in the league. Best Nose Tackles in NFL History Throughout history, there have been several players that have revolutionized what it means to be a nose tackle. From there Peko is able to frequently split double teams and spearhead the Bengals run defense. Theyre largely responsible for the C-gap, which is the space on the outside of the tackle, but they might try and confuse the tackle by starting outside and making a move inside. In the 1980 season, almost 3/4ths of teams were running one. He was part of the good, innovative defenses of Bill Arnsbarger with the Dolphins, the 'Killer Bs' if you will. This is because the 4-3 defensive scheme has two inside linebackers that can fill those two gaps if needed. The one season he filled in for an injured 3-tech (Keith Millard) he did will, recording 8.5 sacks and 7.5 stuffs and 82 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). He was drafted into the NFL in 2004 by the New England Patriots. A 3-4 defensive scheme is more of a base defense that can be effective against the run and pass when performed correctly. Sometimes a nose tackle or defensive tackle will line up in a 1-technique. Still, their role changes as a defensive tackle. He benefits from a strong and talented supporting cast, but everything the Steelers are able to do on defense, is determined by the play of Hampton. In those situations, Howie Long would play the right end. Carter knew what his job was as a nose tackle, and he did it perfectly. May 18, 2022 9:45 am ET. 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. This is due mainly to the fact that most of the standout nose tackles in the league play for 3-4 teams. It frequently took 2 or 3 linemen to block him, freeing up teammates to double-cover or blitz. The 0-technique is generally played in the 3-4 defensive scheme, which is why its largely a nose tackle technique. 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. Said legendary writer/talent evaluator Joel Buchsbaum about Carter, "has awesome ability, strength, quickness, and explosion but is not very durable". He's a shade tackle that played all three downs and never needed to be replaced by a designated pass rusher like so many nose tackles, which accounts for his high sack total, in fact, no nose/shade tackle is even close and from film review, he was as good versus the run as any of them. Nose tackles dont receive a lot of glamour in modern football. all the guys ahead of him were better than he was. 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. Carter was the classic run-stopper at nose, not much of a rusher. This would make them more responsible for the B-gap (in-between the tackle and guard). A 375-pounder as a defensive tackle is something not everyone can expect. It all depends on the game situation. Pat Williams was a top nose for a long time, playing 14 seasons and was a starter in his last 10. Sopoaga is such a powerful and active presence, that he demands a double team on almost every play. Thomas played in 213 games, started 199 of them, totaled 864 tackles including 93.5 sacks and 95.0 run stuffs, totals that rival players like Warren Sapp and Bryant Young, two of the 1990s All-Decade selections. Most of Ratliff's reputation is built on his pass rushing ability. Since nose tackles are largely responsible for clogging up the middle of the line of scrimmage, its almost required that they have a big body thats difficult to block. With a player like Raji over the center, Dom Capers can utilise every page of his zone blitz playbook. His professional football career began in 1977 when he was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles 1977. He has been an all-pro or pro bowler more than any other nose tackle. Plus he played the position until 39 years old; amazing longevity for a position where you're fighting off double teams from other 300 lb men your whole career. Taylor Lewan, Tennessee Titans. With that said, the nose tackle position is highly respected by their teammates and is most likely going to be the defensive coordinators favorite player when things are going well. They need to have a big body, but they also need to have some speed and strength to make them quicker and stronger than a center and offensive guard. A NT will either be head on v a centre or on the strongside A gap, either way a NTs job is to absorb a double team and not allow either of the OL trying to move him to get downfield. as a nose tackle, mostly a backup or part-time player. Bill Wills is one such example, he was undrafted in the 1946 draft! As you learn more about football, you start to hear the term defensive technique. Its not something a normal fan has to be concerned about, but its something that gets mentioned by the announcers and commentators regularly. Nose tackles are found in the middle of the defensive line when running a 3-4 defensive scheme. Would have put Maas and Gilbert Brown much higher, but really enjoyed this list. 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. A nose tackle, also known as the nose guard or middle guard, is a player that aligns themselves in the middle of the defensive line. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Highest single-season PFF grades since 2017 Donald's peers are the NFL's all-time greats on defense the Reggie Whites and Lawrence Taylors of the world rather than anyone else currently playing. You can guess from his career highlights how much we could write about him. If its a 2-technique, the player must line up head-to-head with the guard. 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. Joe Nash is a glaring omission. If youre interested in learning more about the nose tackle position in football, continue reading for a full breakdown of what a nose tackle does and what it takes to be a dominant nose tackle. Super Bowl LVII: All You Need To Know About Its Results, Winner, Highlights and Half-Time Show !! After getting drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1984, Michael Carter remained unmoved throughout his pro football career. As Easley is often looked past due to his short career in the NFL, his play on the field was at a top level and one that had in the elite group . Nose Tackles typically don't stuff the stat sheet so it can be hard to measure their greatness unless you're watching tape but I would say that any 3-4 team with a great NT had good numbers v the run, I find your lack of Casey Hampton disturbing. Being a team player is their primary characteristic. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. The two-time pro bowler Hank Thomas is often underappreciated and is one of the most underrated players of recent times. The 55 Best Movies and Series on HBO Max (Where You 1968 (Denver Broncos, Round: 2 / Pick: 31), Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, Houston Oilers, Detroit Lions, 1979 (Buffalo Bills, Round: 2 / Pick: 32), Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, and San Francisco 49ers, 1991 (San Francisco 49ers, Round: 1 / Pick: 25), San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, 1987 (Minnesota Vikings, Round: 3 / Pick: 72), Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots andDetroit Lions, 1984 (San Francisco 49ers, Round: 5 / Pick: 121), 1977 (Philadelphia Eagles, Round: 7 / Pick: 175), Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings, 2004 (New England Patriots, Round: 1 / Pick: 21), 1987 (Detroit Lions, Round: 3 / Pick: 63), Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, Minnesota Vikings. Akiem Hicks, Chicago Bears. I swear every time there is a discussion about nose tackles Ngata is mentioned, and Ravens fans go berserk because he doesn't play nose tackle. Ted Washington is another. Check out the Top 10 photos from Super Bowl LVII! While Ngata fell to the shadows behind the likes of Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis, the former Oregon Ducks star was a force to be reckoned . What does it need to be a good nose tackle? Johnsons primary duty was to stop the run, and he did it so well. If youre a football player, you must understand what a defensive technique is. Really, on a game-to-game basis, Hamilton was the NFL's first modern nose tackle. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Williams would rush into the offense and occupy multiple blockers to create a lane of pursuit for fellow defenders. Gil Brandt's greatest NFL tackles of all time NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the best offensive tackles in NFL history. Check out the Top 10 photos from Super Bowl LVII! Take a look at how they stack. At 6'4" and287 pounds, Ratliff is taller and significantly lighter than the prototypical NFL nose tackle. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. He had a high of 85 tackles in 1978, 68 in 1979, and 67 in 1980. The type of reliable-backup career you just don't see much anymore. Pouha has gone from a deputy to the oft-injured Kris Jenkins, to becoming a significant force at the heart of the Jets opportunistic defense. But the majority of the players on the list operate as the focal point ina base 3-4 defense. Pouha is the basis for the Jets swarming rush defense and his stout performances in the middle of the line ensures the schematic flexibilitycharacteristicof Rex Ryan's multiple system. During his stay in Kansas, Culp shined as a defensive nose tackle. Defensive techniques serve two major purposes they tell the defenders where they need to line up for that specific play and they tell the defenders what their role is when on the field. A couple of years ago, Jay Ratliff would have comfortably toppeda list of this kind. Yep, he arrived when those guys were on their way out of town. Sopoaga is a disruptive force over the center. This makes it hard for the running back to find a hole through either of the two B-gaps (in-between the guard and tackle). Jake Matthews, Atlanta Falcons. Michael Carter Career Highlights: Super Bowl champion: 3 times (XIX, XXIII, XXIV) First-team All-Pro: 3 times (1986, 1987, 1988) Pro Bowl: 3 times (1985, 1987, 1988) He was a Second-team All-Pro in 1977 and that was the only season he received post-season honors. 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. James P. Burt (born June 7, 1959 in Orchard Park, New York) is a former American football player who played for the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL). Packers stalwart B.J. Also, played some DE. Admittedly, in this period, it was less characterized by the dominating nose tackle and more by the fearsome outside linebacker, such as Lawrence Taylor. 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. Vince Wilfork was born in 1981 in Florida. They line up with a defensive end on both sides of them, but theres a pretty large gap between them since the offensive line is made up of five players. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. So I discount guys like Ngata who may have played in the middle of a 3 man line on occasions but were never 2 gap players. By this time, he played over 200 games to record 93.3 sacks, 1007 tackles, and four touchdowns, so many for a defensive nose tackle. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. This is because four linebackers can either drop back and guard the middle of the field or play at the line of scrimmage against the run. Thomas was great at tackling and arguably the best among all nose tackles. I created this website to share my passion with all of you. The more space they take up, the less of a hole the running back has to make it through the line of scrimmage. Pro Football Hall of Fame/Associated Press, Al Messerschmidt Archive/Associated Press. This is a subreddit for the NFL community. The Broncos used some 3-4 for years prior to 1976 when they finally committed to it full time. Maybe if he hadn't gone to USFL but really, except for 1983, he was a backup---someone who got to play when Carter was hurt, would play some 40 tackle in nickel/dimeHe was considered by the 36 starts was kind of a problem. They rank up there with the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Red Sox, and all the other teams to win several championships since the turn of the century. When you think of the Steelers' 3-4, you think of a couple names: it starts with Casey Hampton, the best true nose tackle the team has ever had. Soliai excels at drawing and occupying double teams. We may reconsider in the future, but for now, we put him with the tackles. 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. Peko plays with intensity, but his technique is smart and precise. Throughout history, there have been several players that have revolutionized what it means to be a nose tackle. A long injury layoff is the only reason that Buffalo Bills defensive linchpin Kyle Williams didn't make the list. Matt Toeainais the most unheralded member of the Chicago Bears tough defense. Ngata played more than the shade (1-tech) for the Ravens, playing mostly over guards and even inside shoulder of a tackle (4i) technique. My name is Steven and I love everything sports! Vea had four sacks last season playing out of the nose. He spent his last six seasons as a backup/rotational nose for the Raiders, then the Jets. Defensive tackles are mostly the silent killer of a team. But Garay's brute force makes him formidable at the point of attack. In recent seasons the position has taken on greater significance thanks to the proliferation of 3-4 fronts. He used his size to his advantage and made the lives of the blockers impossible. Louis Rams, 1976-1995 Voted to seven Pro Bowls First player to play 20 seasons for one team Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, St. Louis Rams, 1997-2008; Chicago Bears, 2009 Voted to seven Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro three times One-time Super Bowl champion Started 154 consecutive games Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dallas Cowboys, 1967-1979 Voted to six Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro three times Two-time Super Bowl champion Started in six NFC Championship Games Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Chicago Bears, 1936-1946 Three-time NFL champion Voted to four Pro Bowls, First-Team All-Pro four times Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, New York Yanks, 1951; Cleveland Browns, 1954-1962 Voted to six Pro Bowls Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Cleveland Browns, 2007-2016 Voted to 10 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro six times Has started all 160 games he has played in the NFL, Green Bay Packers, 1956-1970; Dallas Cowboys, 1971 Started on eight NFL championship teams Voted to nine Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro seven times Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Minnesota Vikings, 1968-1981; Los Angeles Rams, 1982 Voted to seven Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro six times First O-lineman to be selected No. Charlie Johnson had a short career in the NFL, but he still managed to cement his preposition among the best nose tackles of all time in NFL history. And in 1980 he got his hands up enough to pick off three passes from his nose position. The likes of Vince Wilfork, Jamal William, Haloti Ngata, Ted Williams are some of the best ever. 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. For many defenses the nose tackle's performance is the most critical element of the scheme. 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. A nose tackle has to occupy multiple blockers to create a lane of pursuit for fellow defenders. Take a look at all the action as the 2023 Combine gets underway in Indianapolis. They silently contribute and help their team to win. You have entered an incorrect email address! But the starter at nose in the first game was Lyle Alzado, not Carter. Pro Football Network analyst Matt Valdovinos ranks the top 25 offensive tackles in the NFL. Rowe helped the Raiders to their first Super Bowl trophy (IMO) - I was at that Super Bowl. As with any list there is room for debate here and there but he's ranked about right.Let me guess, you are a Steeler's fan? Take a look at all the action as the 2023 Combine gets underway in Indianapolis. The 0-technique is largely specific to the nose tackle but can be played by defensive tackles as well. NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the greatest defensive tackles in NFL history. The defensive tackle is largely used in the 4-3 defensive scheme as well as the 5-2 defensive scheme. STEELERS' ALL-UNDRAFTED TEAM Quarterback: Devlin Hodges Running Back: Willie Parker Fullback: Dan Kreider Wide Receivers:. Raji possesses a more diverse and dynamic skill set than Pouha. Wills played a key role in the defense and was all-pro once and a pro bowler. Had he not been denied the opportunity to follow up his stellar 2010 season, Williams would certainly have merited inclusion. In his rookie year, he had to share his position with Keith Traylor. Ted Washington was another great nose tackle, dude was massive! In this technique, the defensive player must line up over the outside shoulder of the offensive line. 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. He did that while ascending as one of the greatest nose tackles of all time. Super Bowl champion: 2 times (XXXIX, XLIX). 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 . With that said, Im happy to have you on the site and hope I can help you out in achieving your goals! A high-motor, hustle type. Tim Goad is a very good player from start. 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. + Indicates Hall of Famer. This allows the safeties to stay deep and maintain the integrity of Chicago's preferred Tampa-2 coverage scheme. Pro Bowl: 4 times (1997, 1998, 2000, 2001). May 14, 2020. 17+ Basketball Games for Kids The Ultimate List. He was First-team All-Pro once and a Second-team All-Pro twice and was a Pro Bowler all three of those seasons. Ive played and watched sports all my life and have coached them as well for the last few years. Washington had played for several teams in his 17-year-long career. The nose tackle is largely used in the 3-4 defensive scheme as well as a 5-2 defensive scheme. He's pure run-stopper, he's one of the few players to actually go to a Pro Bowl in a season when he had zero sacks. One name that might get overlooked among some of the best defensive tackles all-time is the former Baltimore Ravens great Haloti Ngata. Al Amin Sagor is simply a movie freak who is passionate about writing entertainment content. First-team All-Pro: 5 times (1980, 1981, 82, 83, 88). Chicago Bears, 1985-1993; Philadelphia Eagles, 1993-1994 One-time Super Bowl champion Recorded 29.5 sacks in 138 NFL games, Oakland Raiders, 1996; New Orleans Saints, 1997-2001; Dallas Cowboys, 2002-2005; St. Louis Rams 2006-2008 Voted to six Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro one time NFL 2000s All-Decade Team 2000 NFC Defensive Player of the Year 2000 NFL sacks leader (17.5) Finished career with 433 tackles, 83.5 sacks and 16 forced fumbles, San Francisco 49ers, 1994-2007 One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to four Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro one time NFL 1990s All-Decade Team Had 89.5 sacks and 618 tackles in 208 career games, Cleveland Browns, 1946-1953 One-time NFL champion Voted to three Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times NFL 1940s All-Decade Team Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Baltimore Ravens, 2006-2014; Detroit Lions, 2015-Present One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro two times Started 160 of 162 NFL games Has 29.5 sacks, 491 tackles, 6 forced fumbles and 5 interceptions in 11 NFL seasons, Baltimore Ravens, 2013-Present One of the most dominant interior defensive linemen in NFL today Became highest-paid nose tackle in the NFl by signing a five-year, $54 million deal with Ravens in March Has 4.5 sacks and 101 tackles in 55 career games, Cincinnati Bengals, 1983-1994 Voted to two Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro one time Recorded 34.5 sacks and 1,017 career tackles Missed only four games (out of 192) in 12-year career, Detroit Lions, 1958-1970 Voted to four Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times NFL 1960s All-Decade Team Missed only one game in 12-year career, New England Patriots, 2001-2008; Oakland Raiders, 2009-2012 Three-time Super Bowl champion Voted to seven Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times NFL 2000s All-Decade Team Logged 57.5 sacks and recorded 496 career tackles, Minnesota Vikings, 1985-1990; Green Bay Packers, 1992; Seattle Seahawks, 1992; Philadelphia Eagles, 1993 Voted to two Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro two times 1989 NFL Defensive Player of the Year NFL 1980s All-Decade Team Holds NFL record for most sacks by DT in single season (18) Three double-digit sack seasons Recorded 58 career sacks, Houston Oilers, 1985-1995; Dallas Cowboys, 1996 Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro one time NFL-record three fumble recoveries in single game Recorded 76.5 sacks, 861 tackles, and 19 forced fumbles in 12-year NFL career, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1950-1963 Two-time Super Bowl champion Voted to nine Pro Bowls (1957 Pro Bowl MVP), First Team All-Pro once NFL 50th Anniversary All-Time Team Recorded 23 fumble recoveries and at time of retirement was the all-time career safeties leader with three Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, San Francisco 49ers, 1950-1963 Voted to 10 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro six times NFL 1950s All-Decade Team 49ers' first-ever draft pick Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Baltimore Colts, 1950; New York Yanks, 1951; Dallas Texans, 1952; Baltimore Colts, 1953-1961 Two-time NFLchampion Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times NFL 1950s All-Decade Team Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Cleveland Browns, 1957-1958; Green Bay Packers, 1959-1969 Two-time Super Bowl champion, five-time NFL champion Voted to four Pro Bowls (1961 Pro Bowl MVP), First Team All-Pro five times 21 career fumble recoveries Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Chicago Bears 1979-1990 One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to four Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times NFL 1980s All-Decade Team Made All-Pro as both defensive end and defensive tackle Officially credited with 57 career sacks Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, New York Jets, 1977-1987; Indianapolis Colts, 1989 Voted to four Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro two times 1981 AFC Player of the Year Started 145 of 155 NFL games 24 career sacks, 9 fumble recoveries in 10 NFL seasons Anthony Munoz called Klecko "the strongest guy I ever faced. firestarter personality careers,