10 Best Nose Tackles of All Time

Introduction

In the trenches of professional football, a battle rages on every snap. The nose tackle stands as an immovable force among the gladiators in this clash. These behemoths are the defensive line’s anchors, occupying multiple blockers, disrupting plays, and freeing up their teammates to make tackles. But who, among these giants, have cemented their place as the greatest nose tackles of all time?

This article delves into the annals of NFL history, analyzing the careers of legendary nose tackles. We’ll explore their dominance on the field, their impact on the game, and the unique skill sets that separated them. From the immovable walls that clogged running lanes to the disruptive forces that wreaked havoc in opposing backfields, prepare to be introduced to the pantheon of the NFL’s best nose tackles.

The nose guard goes by multiple monikers in football circles. Common alias’ to the defensive line player positioned between the “A” gaps are nose tackle, “zero technique,” nose guard, and middle guard.

How to Recognize the Best Nose Tackles in the NFL’s History

The statistics and measurables for Zero Techniques in the League are few and far between. After all, what these men in the trenches do goes almost unnoticed unless they do something wrong or blow an assignment. It is often a thankless job, but as the NFL has progressed over the years, the accolades for defensive linemen, in general, have given us some tangible metrics to see the success of the nose guard and the men who have staffed the position on the D-Line.

We will look at tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, Pro Bowl selections, All-Pro counts, and Hall of Fame inductions as tangible evidence, as well as consider the Games Started and years played in the NFL at the position to help us along the way.

Combined Tackles Leaders

The first statistic we will test is combined tackles. Using some criteria entered into Stathead, we came up with some candidates for our best-ever nose tackles, at least since the stat has been kept track of and the position was identified to the player.

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Jason Ferguson played the zero technique from the late 1990s through 2009 for the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, and Dallas Cowboys. A seventh-round selection in the 1997 NFL Draft, Ferguson soon showed his worth in clogging the middle by posting 350 solo tackles and six forced fumbles. Jason registers over 500 combined takedowns of ball carriers, including 21-½ career NFL sacks.

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Talk about immovable objects on the D-line, and Vince Wilfork’s name immediately comes to mind. This man was valued early, as the New England Patriots grabbed his rights in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. Big Vince tallied 560 combined tackles while playing in the League for the Patriots and the Houston Texans from  2004 through 2016. These include 16 quarterback sacks and 367 solo tackles.

Sacks of the Signal Callers

Another measure for the defensive nose guard is the number of times they participated in dropping the opposing quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. These big men typically do not feast on the sacks like the edge rushers and defensive tackles do, but some of these middle guards had some skill and success at getting to the would-be passers.

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Ken Clarke, the defensive standout from Syracuse University, carved a respectable career in the NFL, primarily with the Philadelphia Eagles. The talented Big Man also spent time with Seattle and Minnesota. Clarke wasn’t a flashy sack artist, but his strength and technique made him a valuable asset. He excelled at occupying blockers, freeing up linebackers to make plays. His consistency earned him a starting role for most of his tenure in Philadelphia, and he anchored their defensive line during the dominant 1980 Super Bowl XV run.

While statistics may not paint the whole picture, Clarke’s 59 career sacks are a respectable testament to his ability to disrupt plays. He played for 14 seasons, a testament to his durability and dedication.

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Keith Millard wasn’t flashy, but his impact on the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive line in the 1980s and 90s was undeniable. Drafted in the first round in 1984 (13th overall), Millard didn’t garner immediate national attention. However, his relentless pursuit, exceptional technique, and ability to occupy multiple blockers made him a perfect fit for the Vikings’ well-respected defense. His 58 career sacks are a testament to his hard work in the middle.

NFL Recognition and Accolades

A big honor at the end of the season for any player is to be recognized for their outstanding play from the League. All-Pro honors and Pro Bowl selections are the fruits of their labor and account for hardware in the trophy cases. The nose guards with the most of these accolades are:

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Bob Baumhower of the late 1970s and early 1980s Miami Dolphins is a collector of such awards. As a true nose guard, Bob had five Pro Bowl selections. Baumhower registered 39.5 sacks in his nine full seasons in the League.

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Casey Hampton wasn’t the flashiest name on the stat sheet, but his impact on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive line for a decade was undeniable. Drafted in the first round in 2002, this mammoth nose tackle embodied the “Steel Curtain” spirit – a run-stuffing force who freed up linebackers like Jason Gildon and James Harrison to rack up tackles and wreak havoc.

Hampton’s presence wasn’t about individual glory but anchoring the defense, occupying multiple blockers, and disrupting plays. His size and strength made him a wall against the run, while his intelligence allowed him to adjust to different blocking schemes. Hampton was selected to five Pro Bowls as an NT and also participated in two Super Bowl Championships in Pittsburgh.

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Smerlas carved a niche as a dominant nose tackle for the Buffalo Bills in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Drafted in the second round in 1979, Smerlas perfectly fit the Bills’ defensive scheme. Undersized but powerful, he possessed incredible lower-body strength, allowing him to anchor the defensive line and disrupt running plays. Fred was selected to five Pro Bowls and even earned All-Pro recognition in 1982.

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The Detroit Lions chose wisely with their second-round pick in the 1975 NFL Draft when they called Doug English’s name. The former Texas Longhorn product was an All-Pro and was chosen for four NFC Pro Bowl teams during his eleven seasons in the NFL.

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The Dallas Cowboys found a gem for the middle of their defensive line in the seventh round of the 2005 Draft. Jay Ratliff provided a staunch clogging ability of the inside running lanes and pressure up the middle on pass-rush situations for the Boys. He was selected to four Pro Bowls and an All-Pro honor in his time spent in Big D. Ratliff and some snaps in Chicago near the end of his career.

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The man they called Mount Washington was indeed a pillar on the defensive lines he played on. Ted played with the San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Oakland Raiders, and Cleveland Browns during a productive 17-year NFL career. During his pro football tenure, Ted notched 34.5 sacks and over 600 solo tackles. Washington earned recognition in four Pro Bowls and was selected as an All-Pro for his play in the 2001 season.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 27th, 2024 at 12:53 pm and is filed under Top Lists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.