10. Von Miller

Von Miller is the only active NFL player to make this list. Miller is a 2x Super Bowl champion, 3x All-Pro, Super Bowl MVP and 8x Pro Bowler. He is a nightmare for opposing offenses with his ability to quickly shed would-be blockers and attack the quarterback. At age 34, Miller is showing no signs of slowing down as he finished the 2022 season with 8 sacks.

*Career Stats:

123.5 sacks

431 solo tackles

27 forced fumbles

9. James Harrison

James Harrison‘s journey to becoming an elite outside linebacker is a testament to his perseverance. Undrafted and underestimated, Harrison’s work ethic and desire to win propelled him to become a 2x Super Bowl champion. He also had one of the most iconic plays in NFL history, his 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII.

Career Stats:

84.5 sacks

583 solo tackles

34 forced fumbles

8. Rickey Jackson

Rickey Jackson may not have sought the spotlight, but his on-field performance spoke volumes. Jackson was a crucial part of the New Orleans Saints famed “Dome Patrol” linebacking corps. His ability to disrupt plays and create turnovers helped pave the way for the Saints defensive success. He is a 1x Super Bowl champ and Hall of Famer.

Career Stats:

136 sacks

1173 solo tackles

40 forced fumbles

7. Kevin Greene

Kevin Greene‘s relentless pursuit of quarterbacks made him one of the most feared pass rushers in NFL history. The former Pittsburgh Steeler had 160 sacks over his 15-year career. Greene’s explosive first step and tenacious spirit earned him the 1996 Defensive Player of the Year award. His ability to disrupt plays and force turnovers remains legendary.

Career Stats:

160 sacks

669 solo tackles

23 forced fumbles

6. DeMarcus Ware

DeMarcus Ware‘s combination of speed and power made him a nightmare for offensive linemen. His proficiency in both rushing the passer and defending against the run solidified his reputation as one of the best to ever do it. With nine seasons of double-digit sacks, Ware’s impact on the Dallas Cowboys and later the Denver Broncos was indisputable.

Career Stats:

138.5 sacks

505 solo tackles

35 forced fumbles

5. Ted Hendricks

At 6’7″, Ted Hendricks was a mountain of a man at the outside linebacker position. His exceptional wingspan allowed him to swat down passes and disrupt opposing offenses in ways no other linebacker could. A Hall of Famer and a key figure in the dominant Raiders defenses of the 70s. Hendricks was a 4x Super Bowl champ and 4x All-Pro.

Career Stats:

61 sacks

4. Junior Seau

The late great Junior Seau‘s passion for the game was unmatched. His boundless energy and tenacity made him a tackling machine at the outside linebacker position. With an uncanny ability to diagnose plays and a knack for delivering bone-crushing hits, Seau earned 12 Pro Bowl selections and remains an NFL icon.

Career Stats:

56.5 sacks

1522 solo tackles

11 forced fumbles

3. Jack Ham

Jack Ham was a key component of the Pittsburgh Steelers Steel Curtain defense. Ham’s intelligence on the field allowed him to read plays, intercept passes, and neutralize tight ends with ease. Ham was no doubt one of the best coverage outside linebackers we have seen in the NFL. He was a 4x Super Bowl champ and 6x All-Pro.

Career Stats:

25.5 sacks

32 interceptions

2. Derrick Thomas

Derrick Thomas was a force to be reckoned with. Armed with an unparalleled ability to sack quarterbacks, he holds the record for the most sacks in a single game at 7. His speed off the edge and his uncanny knack for creating turnovers made him a nightmare for opposing offenses and a cornerstone of the Kansas City Chiefs defense.

Career Stats:

126.5 sacks

599 solo tackles

41 forced fumbles

1. Lawrence Taylor

Regarded by many as the prototypical outside linebacker, Lawrence Taylor‘s impact on the NFL is immeasurable. With lightning-fast speed and a ferocious playing style, Taylor redefined the position by becoming a dual threat against both the run and the pass. His ability to disrupt quarterbacks and change the course of a game earned him 3 Defensive Player of the Year awards. Taylor was 8x All-Pro and 2x Super Bowl champion.

Career Stats:

126.5 sacks

599 solo tackles

41 forced fumbles

* = Active NFL player

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By: Jake Rajala

The New Orleans Saints don’t have a long, rich history of prolific quarterback play, but they’ve certainly been blessed with countless Prometheus-like pass rushers. It’s blasphemous to ignore the magic from Cameron Jordan, but let’s not forget the old-school, scary QB hunters, as well. With that said, I’m going to untwine the 10 best pass rushers in Saints history.

1. Pat Swilling

Pat Swilling defied expectations as a third-round draft pick, to say the least. The most elusive member of the Dome Patrol notched 10.5 sacks in his sophomore season and then he really turned on the heat in his fourth season by unveiling 16.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and one interception and garnering second-team All-Pro honors. Swilling proved to the NFL world that he was special in 1991 by winning Defensive Rookie of The Year (as he obtained 17 sacks, six forced fumbles, and one interception). He also claimed first-team All-Pro honors in 1992.

2. Cameron Jordan

The modern-day John Wick-like pass-rusher for the Saints, Cameron Jordan, refuses to slow down at age 33. Jordan (112 career sacks) is closing in on Rickey Jackson’s Saints career sack record of 115 sacks. He’s certainly on track to make his sixth straight Pro Bowl, as well. Jordan’s motor and ability to stay on the field — he’s only missed two games in his career — place him one spot ahead of Rickey Jackson in my opinion.

3. Rickey Jackson

It’s undisputed that Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson is a Top-3 Saints pass rusher of all time. Jackson didn’t earn a first-team All-Pro nod in his career, but he did unleash five second-team All-Pro seasons. In addition, Jackson (who was also a member of the Dome Patrol) had 10 seasons of 8+ sacks. He also had a whopping 40 career-forced fumbles — which is a bit more than Jordan’s career FFs (13).

4. Will Smith

The sadly deceased Saints icon Will Smith enjoyed a fruitful Saints career. Smith was a crucial member of the Saints Super Bowl-winning team in the 2009-2010 season – as he released 13.5 sacks in the regular season. The “Will Smith that didn’t star in Independence Day” finished with a potent 67.5 career sacks, 85 total tackles for loss, and 112 QB hits.

5. La’Roi Glover

La’Roi Glover played the defensive tackle spot on another speed, to put it simply. Glover’s most spectacular season arrived in 2000 when he mustered out 17 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles — which earned him first-team AP honors & second in Defensive Player of The Year voting. Glover also garnered second-team AP honors w/ Who Dat Nation in 1998. He didn’t have an overly long journey with the Saints, however (as he played five seasons in the Black and Gold).

6. Wayne Martin

Wayne Martin was the “Marques Colston of defensive players”, to say the least. Martin had five seasons of 10+ sacks, yet he only made one Pro Bowl nod in his career. Martin finished his terrific Saints life with 82.5 sacks, 12 forced fumbles, yet he was let down by his support cast. It should also be stated that Martin wreaked havoc from the DE and DT spot (hello Aaron Donald).

7. Junior Galette

Junior Galette is trying to grow as a human being and he did encourage me and my high school teammates on snapchat. Furthermore, he was an elite pass rusher in his Saints tenure. Galette rose from a scrappy undrafted edge rusher to a Pro Bowl snub — as he registered 12 sacks in 2013 & 10 sacks in 2014. The former Saints OLB wasn’t able to pull himself together after Sean Payton paid to cut him, however.

8. Renaldo Turnbull

Renaldo Turnbull was ultimately a draft bust, but he did turn into the Incredible Hulk in 1993 by garnering first-team All-Pro honors (besides notching a modest nine sacks in his rookie season). Renaldo finished with 45.5 sacks — which weren’t exactly Saints ring of honor material.

9. Charles Grant

Similar to Junior Galette, Charles Grant was able to knock out numerous double-digit sack seasons (10 sacks in 2003 & 10.5 sacks in 2004). Unfortunately, Grant wasn’t a beacon of excellence in his other seasons & he only finished w/ 47 sacks in his Saints journey.

10. Marcus Davenport

PFF may just be Marcus Davenport’s best friend, despite his inability to stay on the field. Davenport garnered an 88 grade by PFF a season ago and an 84.1 grade by PFF in 2019. Davenport has consistently been pegged as one of the most effective DEs. Although, Davenport is also made of glass — as he missed five games in 2020 and six contests last season. Ironically, Davenport hasn’t missed a game this season, and he is sadly having a down season (.5 sack on the season).

The post 10 best pass rushers in Saints history appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The New Orleans Saints legend Jordan Cameron Cameron Jordan refused to slow down in 2021. He unveiled 12.5 sacks, 22 quarterback hits, and 13 TFLs in his 11th NFL season. Furthermore, Jordan was rightfully named NFC Defensive Player of The Week in Week 15 and Week 17.

Jordan’s biggest moment in 2021 unequivocally came when he recorded his 100th career sack in Week 15 against the Bucs. With that said, it’s clear that Jordan entered himself into prestigious conversation with his efforts a season ago. So, the ultimate question easily resting on Jordan’s mind is: can the Saints 2011 first-round pick enter Canton after his career is eclipsed?

Well, I’m going to untwine the career production from Jordan:

• 107 career sacks
• 137 TFLs
• 56 pass deflections
• 573 combined tackles
• 206 QB hits
• 7 Pro Bowl selections
• All-Pro in 2017
• Zero Super Bowl rings

It’s clear that Jordan is one of the best pass rushers over the past decade, but how does he compare to players that have actually made it into the HOF? Well, I believe a poetic, realistic profile comparison for Jordan is Rickey Jackson. The Saints long-time edge hunter wasn’t a first-ballot HOF player, but he did crack a HOF spot in 2010 (after retiring in 1995). Here is a sharp look at Jackson’s resume:

• 136 career sacks
• 1,180 tackles
• 6 Pro Bowl selections
• Super Bowl XXIX champion

Jackson has impressive production in his career as a member of “The Dome Patrol” and a Super Bowl ring with SF. I believe that Jordan (33 in July) may not make an All-Pro team in the future or continue to play like Reggie White in December and January, but he should honestly be able to have two more Pro Bowl-caliber seasons, unveil around 30+ more sacks, make his presence felt as a run defender, and potentially win a Super Bowl. If Jordan can have a few more stout years (including two Pro Bowl spots), he should eventually be the next Saints legend to give a HOF speech (after Jackson in 2010 and Sam Mills in 2022).

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

By: Jake Rajala

The Los Angeles Chargers pass rusher Joey Bosa has proven to be one of the NFL’s top pass rushers at 26 years old. The older Bosa brother has won Defensive Rookie of The Year and made four Pro Bowl selections thus far.

There is a massive question that many Chargers/NFL fans have in regard to Bosa’s end-destination: Is Bosa on the path to becoming a Hall of Famer? It’s clear that Bosa’s new teammate Khalil Mack is a future Hall of Famer, but it’s less certain if the grandson of Joe “Batters” is headed to Canton. So, is Bosa’s path special enough to earn him a gold jacket.

With that said, here is the success of Bosa’s first six seasons in comparison to the statistics of the first six seasons of “Khalil Mack and J.J. Watt”.

Joey Bosa

• 58 sacks
• 129 QB hits
• 73 tackles for loss

J.J. Watt

• 74.5 sacks
• 214 QB hits
• 133 tackles for loss

Khalil Mack

• 61.5 sacks
• 116 QB hits
• 76 tackles for loss

It’s quite fascinating that the Chargers fierce pass-rushing duo have a very similar six-year outcome. Of course, Mack has won Defensive Player of The Year (2016) and he made three All-Pro teams (2015, 2016, and 2018). I believe that Bosa is on a terrific path of consistency and dominance, but I honestly believe he needs to have at least 60 more career sacks (with other very elite career stats) to crack a HOF spot. If Bosa can really crack a couple of All-Pro teams, while being dominant for five seasons, he should finish as a HOF player.

The Saints legend Rickey Jackson unveiled a very impressive 136 career sacks, but he didn’t win a DPOY award or make any All-Pro teams. He did make the HOF after retiring in 1995, but he didn’t obtain a gold jacket until 2010. If Bosa doesn’t earn an All-Pro nod, his childhood dream of making it into the HOF could come to fruition if he has a similar career output as Jackson.

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

By: Jake Rajala

There is a vast amount of football fans who believe the term “old school football” is a load of hogwash and it just exaggerates the playing period of less player safety and D+ television graphics. Well, that half-empty fan would be mistaken to have that skewed perception of football before Peyton Manning and Charles Woodson entered the league. 

The good-ole football period from the mid-1980s to – late 1990s truly embodied myth-like football figures. There has never been another “1985 Bears defense” or “The Dome Patrol”. We are very familiar with Buddy Ryan’s skull-crushing defense led by Mike Singletary at the Mike linebacker position. But, do we know the other special fossil in “The Dome Patrol”?

In this outlook, I’m going to recap just how scary and talented the Dome Patrol, also known as the greatest LB corps of all time was. Let’s take a look. 

NFL Network rightfully dubbed the Dome Patrol as the greatest LB corps of all time. It’s easy to acknowledge how special the 49ers and Steelers crew was, but the Dome Patrol has more firepower and unique tales. All four LBs on Jim Mora’s defense were elite, consistent, unusually tough, and a part of the unit together for many years. They first made their mark all starting together as the fearsome foursome in 1987. They never looked back until 1993. 

Here is an individual overview of each titan-like LB

Rickey Jackson:

• Hall of Famer
• 136 career sacks
• Six-time Pro Bowl selection
• Only missed two games in his career  (Cameron Jordan has missed one game in his career, via COVID)

 Sam Mills: 

• 2022 Hall of Fame finalist
• Five-time Pro Bowl selection
• All-Pro in 1996
• 1,265 career combined tackles

  Pat Swilling: 

• Two-time All-Pro selection
• 17 sacks in 1991
• 16.5 sacks in 1987
• 36 career forced fumbles
• 107.5 career sacks

  Vaughan Johnson:

• Four-time Pro Bowl selection
• 664 career tackles for the Saints in eight years
• Vaughan Johnson passed away in 2019 at age 57 from kidney disease

In 1991, the Dome Patrol led the Saints to their first division title in franchise history. They allowed a mere 13 PPG on defense. Yes, you read that correctly. A year later, the game wrecking LB corps and Rickey Jackson-led defense allowed 12.625 PPG. The end of an era arrived in 1993, as Pat Swilling departed in 1994. Jackson would then be shipped away in 1994. The Dome Patrol was a truly remarkable defense and gift to the football world in their tenure together.

So, is the Dome Patrol the best LB unit of all time? If not, who do you believe is the best LB group in the league? Post your thoughts in the comment section below!

The post Remembering the Dome Patrol: the greatest LB corps of all time appeared first on Pro Football Mania.