STOP! Take a look into the eyes of a linebacker, the movement from right to left, the stare at the quarterback like a missile locked on a target. Are you intimidated? You better be, especially with the players you are about to learn about moving from side to side shouting out an audible, shifting and placing other players in a different position. Linebackers are fierce, like a beast or gladiator ready for battle. Throughout NFL history there have been several linebackers that come and go, some still play and some have gone on to retirement. I have gathered some information and have picked on average five of the best linebackers in NFL history.

I'm not sure if there is some sort of phenomenon or a coincidence but the Chicago Bears franchise has become the breeding ground for the largest majority of the greats at the middle linebacker position. In the year 2000 Brian Urlacher was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 1st round. Urlacher has an impressive record with 838 tackles, 15 interceptions, and 37.5 sacks, these numbers continue to increase. Urlacher has made the pro bowl six times during his career.

The next Chicago gridiron warrior is Dick Butkus; he wasn't fast nor was he strong but the opposing team feared him because of his aggressive power on the field. Butkus played for the Bears for nine seasons before having a knee injury that ended his career. Butkus was named first-team ALL-NFL as a rookie and went on to receive the award five more times.

As a rookie with the Chicago Bears, Butkus was named first-team All-NFL, an honor he would record five more times. The Chicago Bears middle linebacker also played in the Pro Bowl following his rookie season and in each of the next seven years. Although Butkus, who played middle linebacker for the Bears for nine seasons, had his career cut short by a devastating knew injury, his legacy as one of the greatest linebackers of all-time had long since been set. Butkus had a tactic that he used for pre-game; he would look at the other team and pretend they were laughing at him. Whether this tactic worked or not he was one of the best of the game and a Hall of Famer.

The last Bear on the list is Mike Singletary or "Samurai Mike" because of his stare that would go right through players. Singletary was a second round pick and became a starter in his seventh game; he stayed there for 11 seasons. Singletary started 172 games and went to the pro bowl 10 times.

To continue on with the greatest linebackers in the NFL there is life after Bears; Lawrence Taylor from the New York Giants is probably the best linebacker by far. Taylor was second round pick in the 1981 draft. He quickly became a well known player and a 2 time Super Bowl Champion. In 1986 Taylor was named the first defensive player since 1971 to be the NFL's league MVP.

Lastly who can forget the leader of the famous "Steel Curtain" defense, Jack Lambert from the Pittsburgh Steelers? Lambert was a second round draft pick in 1971 and also brought with him the linebacker attitude that would crush offenses one by one. In 1974 Lambert was named defensive player of the year

References:
http://www.associatedcontent.c om/

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