12 Best Right Tackles of All Time

In the gladiator arena of the NFL, the quarterback reigns supreme. But without his loyal guardian on the right side, his reign can be short-lived. Enter the offensive right tackle, a stalwart warrior tasked with a singular mission: protecting the quarterback’s blindside.  These titans of the offensive line excel in the trenches, wielding their strength, technique, and unwavering focus to neutralize some of the league’s most ferocious pass rushers.

Today, we embark on a journey through gridiron history, unveiling the legendary right tackles who kept quarterbacks upright and paved the way for offensive dominance.  From the immovable mountains who anchored rushing attacks to the nimble technicians who neutralized elite speed rushers, get ready to be introduced to the pantheon of the NFL’s most dominant right tackles.  Who will claim the top spot?  Let the debate begin!

How to Recognize the Best Right Tackles in the NFL

The statistics and measurables for right 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.

Those RT’s in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

What higher honor can a professional football player have as a reward for their hard work and dedication to the sport than to be enshrined in Canton? This honor is bestowed to an elite few, especially when offensive linemen like right tackles are concerned. Here are the elite tackles to the right of the center who have a bronze bust in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Forrest Gregg, a versatile lineman, dominated the NFL for 15 seasons. Starting as an offensive tackle with the Green Bay Packers, he earned eight Pro Bowls and helped them win four NFL championships under Lombardi. Later, he transitioned to coaching multiple teams, even leading the Bengals to the Super Bowl in 1981. It was Gregg’s amazing, consistent play, though, that earned him a place in the Hall and in the NFL right tackle rankings.

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Bob Brown was a stonewall on the right side for the Eagles, Rams, and Raiders during an NFL career that spanned through the early 1960s and early 70s. This former Nebraska Cornhusker appeared in six Pro Bowls and was selected as an NFL All-Pro five times for his fine play.

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San Francisco legend Bob St. Clair dominated the trenches for 11 seasons with the 49ers. The towering tackle (6′-9″) earned a trip to the Pro Bowl five times. St. Clair served as a reliable blocker for legendary quarterback Y.A. Tittle and company, making the team a formidable offense and one of the best right tackles in NFL history.

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Ron Mix, a Hall of Fame offensive lineman, carved a unique path in the NFL. Drafted by both the NFL (Colts) and AFL (Patriots), Mix ended up latching on with a different team in the Los Angeles Chargers, becoming a dominant tackle and guard for a decade.  He was an eight-time AFL All-Star, renowned for his durability and exceptional blocking, and he was flagged for very few holding penalties in his career.  A late-career trade brought him to the Oakland Raiders, making him part of the only offensive line in NFL history composed entirely of Hall-of-Famers. Though his career spanned just 11 seasons, his impact as a relentless blocker and a leader solidified his place among football’s elite.

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Can you imagine the challenge for a defender to see a 6′-5″ 320-pound monster wearing number 77 coming around the corner looking to consume them? That is precisely what the scene was like for opponents of the Chiefs and Saints on both sides of the New Millennium. Willie Roaf was an offensive lineman who dominated the NFL for 13 seasons. Drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 1993, he spent nine years protecting their quarterbacks, earning seven Pro Bowls and All-Pro selections. Renowned for his power and agility, Roaf was a vital piece of the Saints’ early success. After a 2001 injury, he was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he continued his dominance, adding four more Pro Bowls to his resume. Renowned for his work ethic and leadership, Roaf’s 11 Pro Bowls tie him for most by an offensive tackle. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012, a testament to his lasting impact on the game.

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Larry Allen was a dominant offensive tackle who redefined the position in the NFL. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1994. He anchored their offensive line for 12 seasons, protecting quarterbacks like Troy Aikman and the NFL’s All-Time Leading Rusher Emmitt Smith’s dominant ground attack.  He earned 11 Pro Bowls and 2 All-Pro selections, paving the way for multiple Super Bowl appearances. Known for his strength, agility, and nasty streak, Allen revolutionized how tackles approached run blocking, becoming a key figure in the Cowboys’ offensive dynasty. The talented big man took his services to the San Francisco 49ers in his final two seasons of NFL play.

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When the NFL’s New York Yanks selected a tackle from Kansas named Mike McCormack, they hoped they would find a stalwart in the trenches. They hit the nail right on the head with the pick, and though the franchise didn’t survive, McCormack was picked up by the Cleveland Browns a few years later to enjoy a fruitful career. Mike anchored a line that helped the Browns earn two NFL Championships and collected personal accolades of six Pro Bowl appearances in nine seasons with the franchise blocking for offensive legends like Otto Graham and Jim Brown.

Frequent Pro Bowl Visits of Non-HOF Right Tackles

You just read the list of the Offensive Right Tackles in Canton, but there are some other studs who aspire to be there someday, too, who have made multiple Pro Bowl appearances. Here are some players at the top of the list in this category.

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Powell’s career spanned from the late 1970s through the mid-80s, when he played on the O-lines of the New York Jets and later the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His five Pro Bowls, including three seasons as an NFL All-Pro, qualify his play for this list of all-time greats.

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Notre Dame standout George Kunz made his presence felt in the NFL, blocking on the right side of the early Atlanta Falcons teams and later for the Baltimore Colts. Kunz played in the NFL for eleven seasons and was rewarded with six Pro Bowl invites and a first-team All-Pro season in 1975.

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San Diego Chargers stalwart Russ Washington dominated for 15 seasons. Drafted 4th overall in 1968, he transitioned from defensive tackle to become a five-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle, protecting quarterbacks for over a decade.  A key part of the Air Coryell passing attack, Washington anchored the line and helped the Chargers reach the playoffs in his final four seasons.

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Doug Smith, a stud offensive tackle, anchored the Los Angeles Rams offensive line for 14 seasons (1978-1991). Replacing Rich Saul in 1982, he earned 6 Pro Bowl selections, protecting quarterbacks like Eric Dickerson for a potent Rams offense that reached the playoffs six times during his tenure.

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Lane Johnson was drafted #4 overall in 2013 and solidified the Philadelphia Eagles offensive line for a decade. A dominant run blocker and reliable pass protector, he earned All-Pro honors twice and helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LII. Injuries hampered him later in his career, but his impact on the team’s success remains undeniable.

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Conclusion

There you have it—a dozen of the best right tackles in NFL history. Their success is documented by the great plays they recorded on film and the hardware and accolades each received.

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This entry was posted on Friday, April 19th, 2024 at 5:13 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.