{"id":403,"date":"2024-03-09T13:10:54","date_gmt":"2024-03-09T17:10:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/?p=403"},"modified":"2026-01-12T16:02:58","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T20:02:58","slug":"10-best-strong-safeties-of-all-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/2024\/03\/10-best-strong-safeties-of-all-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Top NFL Strong Safeties of All Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

(last updated on January 12, 2026)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the defensive backfield, the aptly named safety is the last line of defense. In order to be one of the top strong safeties in the NFL, a player needs the speed to cover receivers and the strength\/tackling ability to cover tight ends and stop the run. Here is our list of the 10 best strong safeties of all time, using data and statistics from the Pro Football Reference database.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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\"Photo\n<\/div>
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\n\t\tTroy Polamalu<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n \n

\n \n Troy Aumua Polamalu\n \n <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\tPosition<\/strong>: DB\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n

5-10<\/span>, 207lb<\/span> (178cm, 93kg) <\/p>\n\n\n

\n Born:<\/strong> \n \n\t\tApril 19<\/a>, 1981\n \n \n in Santa Ana, CA<\/a><\/span>\n \n<\/span> (Age: 42-308d)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

College<\/strong>: \n \n\t\tUSC<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t (College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p>

Weighted Career AV (100-95-…)<\/a>:<\/strong> 96 (190th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

High School<\/strong>: \n \n\t\tDouglas<\/a> (OR<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Draft<\/strong>: Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a> in the 1st round (16th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Hall of Fame<\/strong>: Inducted as \n\t\tPlayer in 2020<\/a>\n(Full List<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n

Pronunciation<\/strong>: \\pole-uh-MAH-loo<\/a>\\<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n \n

Twitter:<\/strong>\n @tpolamalu<\/a>\n \n\n<\/p>\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n