10. Aaron Donald

The previously mentioned Aaron Donald is the prototypical modern defensive tackle. His combination of speed, strength, and technique is unmatched. In his 10 year career, Donald has accumulated numerous accolades, including three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards. multiple All-Pro selections and a Super Bowl ring. Donald recently flirted with retirement but decided to continue his career in 2023.

*Career Stats:

322 solo tackles

105.5 sacks

165 TFL

9. Dan Hampton

Hall of Famer Dan Hampton spent his 12 year career with the Chicago Bears. Hampton was a 6x All Pro and 4x Pro Bowler. Nicknamed the “Danimal” he was a versatile defensive lineman who had multiple seasons with double digit sacks. Hampton was one of the key reasons that the Bears led the NFL in fewest rushing yards and touchdowns during his career there.

Career Stats:

82 sacks

10 fumble recoveries

8. Cortez Kennedy

Cortez Kennedy made a huge impact in the NFL and for the Seattle Seahawks. Despite playing on teams with limited success, Kennedy’s dominance at defensive tackle was second to none. He won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 1992 and earned eight Pro Bowl selections during his Hall of Fame career.

Career Stats:

569 solo tackles

58 sacks

11 forced fumbles

7. Bob Lilly

Bob Lilly, known as “Mr. Cowboy,” was a staple of the Dallas Cowboys defense for 14 seasons. His combination of strength and agility was impressive for his era. Lilly earned 11 Pro Bowl selections and was the first defensive tackle to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. He is a Hall of Famer and also a Super Bowl champion.

Career Stats:

95.5 sacks

18 fumble recoveries

6. Reggie White

Reggie White was a transcendent talent who could dominate from multiple positions along the defensive line. While he is often associated with defensive end play, White’s versatility allowed him to excel as a tackle as well. With two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards and a Super Bowl victory, White’s impact on and off the field is still felt to this day.

Career Stats:

198 sacks

175 solo tackles

5. Merlin Olsen

Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen was known as a gentle giant off the field and a destructive force on it. A stalwart for the Los Angeles Rams Fearsome Foursome, Olsen’s combination of size, strength, and agility made him a dominant force. He earned 14 Pro Bowl selections and 5 All Pro selections.

Career Stats:

91 sacks

9 fumble recoveries

4. John Randle

John Randle‘s journey from undrafted rookie to Hall of Famer is the stuff of legends. His fiery personality and relentless motor made him a disruptive force for the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks. Randle, an eight-time Pro Bowler, recorded double-digit sacks in six seasons.

Career Stats:

137.5 sacks

277 solo tackles

40 TFLs

3. Alan Page

Alan Page was not only a defensive tackle but also a legal scholar and judge off the field during his Hall of Fame career. On it, his menacing play set him apart at the position. A member of the famed Purple People Eaters, Page combined strength, agility, and a deep understanding of the game to garner nine Pro Bowl selections and an NFL MVP award.

Career Stats:

148.5 sacks

23 fumble recoveries

2. Warren Sapp

Warren Sapp brought a new era of athleticism to the defensive tackle position. His quickness off the line and pass-rushing finesse redefined the role. With seven Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl victory, Sapp remains one of the most dominant defensive tackles of the modern era. Off the field he continues to mentor the next great defensive linemen and is currently the working with Deion Sanders at the University of Colorado.

Career Stats:

96.5 sacks

440 solo tackles

138 TFLs

1. Mean Joe Greene

Joe Greene, famously known as “Mean Joe,” tops our list as the best defensive tackle of all time. His ferocious play for the Pittsburgh Steelers Steel Curtain defense set the gold standard for defensive tackles going forward. Greene’s relentless pursuit of quarterbacks and ability to stuff running backs earned him four Super Bowl rings and two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards.

Career Stats:

77.5 sacks

16 fumble recoveries

*= Active NFL player

The post Top 10 Defensive Tackles of All Time appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The former fearless and imposing Kevin Williams was taken by the Vikings in the first round (ninth overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft. It didn’t take long for Williams to make his mark in the league – as he unleashed 10.5 sacks, 15 TFLs, and even one interception in his rookie campaign. The NFL world felt a bigger impact from the Vikings DL in his sophomore season – where he garnered 11.5 sacks, 13 TFLs, two forced fumbles, eight pass deflections, and of course: first-team All-Pro honors.

Williams didn’t peak in his young career, to say the least. The Vikings DT garnered first-team All-Pro four more times in his football journey. At the end of his football career, he accumulated 63 sacks, 528 combined tackles, 90 QB hits, 73 pass deflections, five interceptions, and 10 forced fumbles. The mythical Viks DT retired in the 2016 off-season. With that said, there is an intriguing, pivotal question surrounding the Vikings defender: Is Williams a future Hall of Famer?

I absolutely foresee Williams, who didn’t make the HOF in 2022, cracking a spot in Canton soon. He really holds a similar career output as current HOF DT Cortez Kennedy. The former Seattle Seahawks DL registered 58 sacks and 11 FFs in his tenure. Kennedy also garnered three first-team All-Pro seasons and one second-team All-Pro campaign. He retired after the 2000 season and was inducted into the HOF in the 2012 off-season. Cortez Kennedy also tragically left this world at the ripe age of 48 (and he suffered from heart failure).

Williams was dominant against the run and against the pass (in numerous ways) in his football career. Ndamukong Suh plays a similar brand of football as Williams and he should also find himself in Canton in the future. I expect Williams to be cast into football heaven in the very near future.

The post Is Kevin Williams a future Hall of Famer? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.