14 Best Left Tackles of All Time

Protecting the Blind Side: A Salute to the Greatest Left Tackles in NFL History

They stand tall and resolute, guardians of the quarterback’s blind side, facing the fiercest pass rushers with unwavering determination. Left tackles: the unsung heroes of the gridiron, their impact often measured in silence averted rather than sacks recorded. With this in mind, we embark on a journey through the trenches of NFL history, celebrating the titans who have mastered this demanding position, the men who have redefined the art of pass protection.

From the pioneering prowess of Rosey Brown and Art Shell to modern marvels like Walter Jones and Jonathan Ogden, we’ll delve into the careers of these legendary blockers. We’ll dissect their techniques, analyze their impact on their teams’ success, and relive the iconic moments that cemented their place among the game’s elite.

But this isn’t just a nostalgic trip down memory lane. We’ll also explore the evolution of the left tackle position, examining how the changing landscapes of offensive and defensive schemes have shaped the skillset required for dominance. Along the way, we’ll uncover hidden gems, debate controversial selections, and spark lively discussions about who deserves the title of “Best Left Tackle in the NFL.”

So, buckle up, football fans, as we gear up for an in-depth exploration of the men who stood their ground, blew open running lanes, and kept quarterbacks upright.

How to Recognize the Best Left Tackles in the NFL

The statistics and measurables for left tackles 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 offensive linemen, in general, have given us some tangible metrics to see the success of the offensive tackle and the men who have staffed the position.

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

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Endurance and the Must Quality Snaps

Those with quality longevity at the LT position playing tackle are tough and rigorous jobs in the NFL. These are traditionally some of the most prominent athletes in the League, going against some of the quickest and pound-for-pound strongest guys wearing helmets. Keeping defensive ends and outside edge rushers at bay for dozens of plays per game is no easy chore. The activity eventually takes its toll on the athlete, but some have endured and prospered with fruitful play, the longest being at NFL left tackle. Tracking for this stat is relatively new, so some older gents may have significant numbers that we cannot appreciate.

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One guy who could eclipse 10,000 snaps at left tackle in the NFL if he continues to play is Trent Williams. If you put the post-season snap in the mix, he has probably surpassed this plateau. So far, the big guy has made eleven Pro Bowls and has been selected as an All-Pro three times. Williams has been the Blindside for Washington and San Francisco in his first thirteen seasons of League play and is still considered one of the best left tackles in the NFL.

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Another blindside protector who is also climbing above 10,000 snaps as an NFL LT is Duane Brown. The Virginia Tech product has played on the OL of the Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, and New York Jets, starting over 200 games. Duane has been chosen as an All-Pro and has been on five Pro Bowl rosters thus far in his successful career as an NFL left tackle.

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Most Accolades at Left Tackle

As explained earlier, no good long-term stats measure the ability of left tackles. One measure is the hardware and honors the men in the trenches have collected.

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One of the most feared linemen in the 1970s era of football was the big left tackle of the Raiders, Art Shell. The Hall of Famer was a literal wall defenders had to overcome to get to the man with the ball. Number 78 stymied the opposition for fifteen years, earning eight Pro Bowl nods and two All-Pro selections.

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Gary Zimmerman made the Pro Bowl seven times as an NFL Left Tackle, including three All-Pro seasons. The big fellow anchored the southpaw side of the lines for the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos during his dozen years in the League and got a bronze bust on Canton.

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The 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame class welcomed Joe Thomas into its gallery of busts. Thomas played at a high level for the Cleveland Browns, receiving six All-Pro nods and a spot on ten Pro Bowl rosters in eleven seasons.

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An old-school NFL stud at left tackle, is the New York Giants legend Rosey Brown Jr. Brown, who played for New York from 1953 through the 1965 season, helping them earn an NFL Championship while his honors included nine Pro Bowls and six All-Pro seasons, keeping him relevant in the conversations of NFL left tackle rankings.

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The Miami Dolphins used their first-round selection in the 1990 NFL Draft on this big Man from the Texas Longhorns program, Richmond Webb. It was a great choice as Webb stood tall against defenders, making it to All-Pro status twice and making the roster of seven Pro Bowls.

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Jim Tyrer was a left-side bookend on some great teams in NFL history. The six-foot-six tackle fended off defenders for the Kansas City Chiefs forever a decade with a late cup of coffee on the Redskins. Jim claimed nine Pro Bowls to his results, six All-Pro selections, three AFL titles, and a Super Bowl Championship.

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In 2014’s Pro Football Hall of Fame class, Walter Jones’ left-side barrier was enshrined. Jones has had a fruitful career in Seattle throughout twelve seasons, accumulating nine Pro Bowl selections and being named All-Pro four times.

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The top tackle to play the game could be Anthony Munoz, who played for the Bengals from 1980 through 1982. Munoz was a force on the left side of Cincinnati teams that played in several Super Bowls. Eleven Pro Bowls and Nine All-Pro selections have the former USC Trojan at the top of most lists for the top left tackles in the NFL.

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This man is still playing the position at the time of writing and has earned eight Pro Bowl appearances. The Dallas Cowboys standout has also logged two All-Pro seasons thus far in his career, and he might still need to be done collecting them.

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A player that many remember fondly holding his own on the left side was Orlando Pace. This Pro Football Hall of Famer secured the blindside of the Rams for a dozen seasons and capped it off with a final curtain call in Chicago. Seven Pro Bowls, three All-Pro seasons, and a Super Bowl Championship cement this athlete as one of the best left tackles in NFL history.

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Jason Peters was still going strong in 2023 in his nineteenth NFL season. Peters has collected the accolades of nine Pro Bowls, two All-Pro selections, and a Lombardi. This standout has suited up for the Bills, Bears, Eagles, Cowboys, and Seahawks. Peters was one of the best left tackles in NFL 2023.

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Lomas Brown is another left-side offensive tackle who earned a spot on seven Pro Bowls. The journeyman All-Pro logged snaps with the Lions, Cardinals, Browns, Giants, and Bucs throughout his remarkable 18-year League tenure.

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The Baltimore Ravens built their offensive line with rugged men, and at the forefront of these was eleven-time Pro Bowler Jonathan Ogden. This Hall of Famer also made it to the All-Pro ballot four times and helped the Balt-Birds win a Super Bowl championship.

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Conclusion:

There you have it, a literal who’s who of left tackles from many eras of NFL history. Would you mind any of these men in their prime being on the blindside of your team? 

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This entry was posted on Sunday, March 10th, 2024 at 1:05 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.