{"id":413,"date":"2024-03-22T22:42:42","date_gmt":"2024-03-23T02:42:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/?p=413"},"modified":"2026-01-13T15:40:30","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T19:40:30","slug":"10-best-defensive-tackles-of-all-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/2024\/03\/10-best-defensive-tackles-of-all-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Top NFL Defensive Tackles of All Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>(last updated on January 13, 2026)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Defensive tackle is not one of the most glamorous positions in football, but it is crucial in any defensive scheme. NFL defenses need strong defensive tackles to pressure the quarterback and stop the run. Across eras in the NFL, some of the biggest, strongest and toughest defenders have played defensive tackle. Here are 10 of the best defensive tackles of all time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"nothumb\">\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/G\/GreeJo02.htm\">Joe Greene<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n  \n  \n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Charles Edward Greene\n    &nbsp;(<span>Mean Joe<\/span>)\n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: DT\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>6-4<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>275lb<\/span>&nbsp;(193cm,&nbsp;124kg) <\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=9&amp;day=24\">September 24<\/a>,&nbsp;1946\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Temple,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=TX\">TX<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span> <span>(Age:&nbsp;77-155d)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/notexas\/\">North Texas<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/joe-greene-2.html?__hstc=223721476.cac1cbfbbac026eea66d710d2d74d7b8.1707762943923.1708976805773.1708981169413.51&amp;__hssc=223721476.1.1708981169413&amp;__hsfp=872485192\">College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 109 (80th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93bc817c\">Dunbar<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=TX\">TX<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/pit\/1969_draft.htm\">Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a> in the 1st round (4th overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/1969\/draft.htm\">1969 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hall of Fame<\/strong>: Inducted as \n\t\tPlayer in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/1987-ballot.htm\">1987<\/a>\n(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/\">Full&nbsp;List<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n<p><\/p>\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"important special\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/\">Hall of Fame<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/probowl\/\">10x Pro Bowl<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">4x All-Pro<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/super-bowl\/\">4x SB Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">HOF All-1970s Team<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">2x AP Def. PoY<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">1969 AP Def. RoY<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">1979 Walter Payton MotY<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=pit&amp;number=75\" class=\"poptip default\">\n           75 \n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>181<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>143<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Sk<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>77.5<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Any list of the best defensive tackles in NFL history would be incomplete without \u201cMean\u201d Joe Greene. Greene played for 13 total NFL seasons, all with the Pittsburgh Steelers and in three different decades. He was named the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/awards_1969.htm#all_voting_apdroy\">AP Defensive Rookie of the Year for 1969<\/a>, won <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/awards_1972.htm#all_voting_apdpoy\">two AP Defensive Player<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/awards_1974.htm#all_voting_apdpoy\">of the Year awards<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/pit\/\">won four Super Bowls with the Steelers<\/a> during their dynastic run in the 70s. The 10-time Pro Bowler and four-time All Pro retired in 1981 and was inducted into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/1987-ballot.htm\">Canton<\/a> in 1987.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"nothumb\">\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/L\/LillBo00.htm\">Bob Lilly<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n  \n  \n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Robert Lewis Lilly\n    &nbsp;(<span>Tiger<\/span>)\n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: DT-DE\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>6-5<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>260lb<\/span>&nbsp;(196cm,&nbsp;117kg) <\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=7&amp;day=26\">July 26<\/a>,&nbsp;1939\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Olney,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=TX\">TX<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span> <span>(Age:&nbsp;84-215d)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/tcu\/\">TCU<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/bob-lilly-1.html?__hstc=223721476.cac1cbfbbac026eea66d710d2d74d7b8.1707762943923.1708976805773.1708981169413.51&amp;__hssc=223721476.2.1708981169413&amp;__hsfp=872485192\">College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 112 (67th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93be3153\">Throckmorton<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=TX\">TX<\/a>), \n\t\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93babb35\">Pendleton<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=OR\">OR<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/dal\/1961_draft.htm\">Dallas Cowboys<\/a> in the 1st round (13th overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/1961\/draft.htm\">1961 NFL Draft<\/a>., \n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/kan\/1961_draft.htm\">Dallas Texans<\/a> in the 2nd round (14th overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/1961_AFL\/draft.htm\">1961 AFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hall of Fame<\/strong>: Inducted as \n\t\tPlayer in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/1980-ballot.htm\">1980<\/a>\n(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/\">Full&nbsp;List<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n<p><\/p>\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"important special\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/\">Hall of Fame<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/probowl\/\">11x Pro Bowl<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">7x All-Pro<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/super-bowl\/\">1x SB Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">HOF All-1960s Team<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">HOF All-1970s Team<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=dal&amp;number=74\" class=\"poptip\">\n           74 \n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=dal&amp;number=74\" class=\"poptip default\">\n           74 \n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+1<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>196<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>153<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Sk<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>95.5<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Most NFL defensive tackles don\u2019t play for 11 seasons in the league and even fewer make 11 Pro Bowls. Bob Lilly was not like not most NFL defensive tackles. A North Texan through and through, the TCU product spent his entire 14-season career with the Dallas Cowboys where he made the aforementioned 11 Pro Bowls and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/boxscores\/197201160dal.htm\">won Super Bowl VI<\/a>. Though he played before sacks were credited officially, Pro Football Reference credits him with 95.5 career sacks. He also recovered 18 fumbles in his career. Lilly retired following the 1974 season and was inducted into the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/1980-ballot.htm\">Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/req\/20230307\/images\/headshots\/DonaAa00_2023.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Aaron Donald\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/D\/DonaAa00.htm\">Aaron Donald<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Aaron Charles Donald\n    \n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: DT\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>6-1<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>280lb<\/span>&nbsp;(185cm,&nbsp;127kg) <\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span\" id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1991-05-23\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=5&amp;day=23\">May 23<\/a>,&nbsp;1991\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Pittsburgh,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=PA\">PA<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span\"> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;33-256d)<\/nobr><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/pittsburgh\/\">Pittsburgh<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/aaron-donald-1.html\">College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 123 (38th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93ba2b47\">Penn Hills<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=PA\">PA<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/ram\/2014_draft.htm\">St. Louis Rams<\/a> in the 1st round (13th overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/2014\/draft.htm\">2014 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n  <p><strong>Twitter:<\/strong>\n    <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AaronDonald97\">@AaronDonald97<\/a>\n  \n\n&nbsp;\u00b7\n\n\n  <strong>Instagram:<\/strong>\n    <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/aarondonald99\">aarondonald99<\/a><\/p>\n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/probowl\/\">10x Pro Bowl<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">8x All-Pro<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/super-bowl\/\">1x SB Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">HOF All-2010s Team<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">3x AP Def. PoY<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">2014 AP Def. RoY<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">2x PFWA Def. PoY<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">2014 PFWA Def. RoY<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">2x SN Def. PoY<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=ram&amp;number=99\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#cdbe70\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#cdbe70\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#000080\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000080\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">99<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=ram&amp;number=99\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#000080\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000080\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#ffffff\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#ffffff\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#000080\">99<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=ram&amp;number=99\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#ffd700\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#0000ff\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#0000ff\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">99<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+2<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>154<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>152<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Sk<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>111.0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Solo<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>340<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FF<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>24<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Retiring after the 2023 season, Aaron Donald cemented his place as one of the best defensive tackles in NFL history. The Rams star earned 10 Pro Bowl invites and eight All-Pro selections. Donald racked up every honor a defensive tackle could want, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/awards_2014.htm\">AP Defensive Rookie of the Year<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/ap-defensive-player-of-the-year.htm\">three AP Defensive Player of the Year awards<\/a> and, of course, the Lombardi Trophy from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/boxscores\/202202130cin.htm\">Super Bowl LVI<\/a>. In 2018 Donald led the NFL in sacks with 20.5, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/leaders\/sacks_single_season.htm\">the most for a defensive tackle in a single season<\/a>. Aaron Donald will undoubtedly be elected to the Hall of Fame as soon as he is eligible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/req\/20230307\/images\/headshots\/SappWa00_USAT_1998.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Warren Sapp\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/S\/SappWa00.htm\">Warren Sapp<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Warren Carlos Sapp\n    \n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: DT\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>6-2<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>303lb<\/span>&nbsp;(188cm,&nbsp;137kg) <\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span\" id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1972-12-19\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=12&amp;day=19\">December 19<\/a>,&nbsp;1972\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Orlando,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=FL\">FL<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span\"> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;53-025d)<\/nobr><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/miami(fl)\/\">Miami (FL)<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/warren-sapp-1.html\">College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 117 (51st overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93b9074e\">Apopka<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=FL\">FL<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/tam\/1995_draft.htm\">Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a> in the 1st round (12th overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/1995\/draft.htm\">1995 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hall of Fame<\/strong>: Inducted as \n\t\tPlayer in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/2013-ballot.htm\">2013<\/a>\n(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/\">Full&nbsp;List<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"important special\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/\">Hall of Fame<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/probowl\/\">7x Pro Bowl<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">4x All-Pro<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/super-bowl\/\">1x SB Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">HOF All-1990s Team<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">HOF All-2000s Team<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">1999 AP Def. PoY<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">1999 PFWA Def. PoY<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=tam&amp;number=99\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#ff0000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#ff0000\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#ffa500\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#ffa500\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">99<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=tam&amp;number=99\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#696969\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#696969\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#8b0000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#8b0000\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">99<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=rai&amp;number=99\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,50,50\" class=\"square\"> <rect x=\"0\" y=\"0\" width=\"51\" height=\"51\" stroke=\"#000000\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/rect> <rect x=\"6\" y=\"6\" width=\"39\" height=\"39\" stroke=\"#c0c0c0\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"#c0c0c0\"><\/rect> <text x=\"11\" y=\"34\" fill=\"#fff\">99<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+2<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>198<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>149<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Sk<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>96.5<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Solo<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>440<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FF<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>20<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Warren Sapp spent 13 years in the NFL and became a prototypical modern defensive lineman. One of the top NFL defensive tackles of the 90s and 2000s, Sapp recorded 96.5 sacks in his career and recovered 12 fumbles. He also intercepted four passes in his career, a high number for defensive tackles. Sapp was named to seven Pro Bowls and earned All-Pro honors four times. He was the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/awards_1999.htm\">1999 AP Defensive Player of the Year<\/a> after recording 41 combined tackles, collecting 12.5 sacks and forcing four fumbles that season. Sapp retired following the 2007 season and was inducted into the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/2013-ballot.htm\">Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"nothumb\">\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/P\/PageAl00.htm\">Alan Page<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Alan Cedric Page\n    \n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: DT\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>6-4<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>245lb<\/span>&nbsp;(193cm,&nbsp;111kg) <\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=8&amp;day=7\">August 7<\/a>,&nbsp;1945\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Canton,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=OH\">OH<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span> <span>(Age:&nbsp;78-203d)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/notredame\/\">Notre Dame<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/alan-page-1.html?__hstc=223721476.cac1cbfbbac026eea66d710d2d74d7b8.1707762943923.1708976805773.1708981169413.51&amp;__hssc=223721476.5.1708981169413&amp;__hsfp=872485192\">College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 144 (15th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93bbcc86\">Central Catholic<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=OH\">OH<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/min\/1967_draft.htm\">Minnesota Vikings<\/a> in the 1st round (15th overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/1967\/draft.htm\">1967 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hall of Fame<\/strong>: Inducted as \n\t\tPlayer in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/1988-ballot.htm\">1988<\/a>\n(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/\">Full&nbsp;List<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n<p><\/p>\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"important special\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/\">Hall of Fame<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/probowl\/\">9x Pro Bowl<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">5x All-Pro<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>1x NFL Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>1971 AP MVP<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>1971 UPI NFC MVP<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">HOF All-1970s Team<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">1971 AP Def. PoY<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=min&amp;number=88\" class=\"poptip default\">\n           88 \n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=chi&amp;number=82\" class=\"poptip\">\n           82 \n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+1<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>218<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>197<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Sk<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>148.5<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1971, Alan Page became the first defensive player to win the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/awards_1971.htm\">AP MVP award<\/a>. Page was a feared member of the Minnesota Vikings\u2019 \u201cPurple People Eater\u201d defensive line in the late 1960s and early\u00a01970s and made more Pro Bowls in his career than any of his other teammates with nine. Page spent 16 seasons in the NFL, establishing himself as one of the best defensive tackles in NFL history. However, after his playing career ended, he would go on to have a very successful legal career as a justice. Page would serve on the Minnesota Supreme Court from 1993 until 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"nothumb\">\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/O\/OlseMe00.htm\">Merlin Olsen<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Merlin Jay Olsen\n    \n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: DT\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>6-5<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>270lb<\/span>&nbsp;(196cm,&nbsp;122kg) <\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=9&amp;day=15\">September 15<\/a>,&nbsp;1940\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Logan,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=UT\">UT<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<p><strong>Died:<\/strong>\n    <span id=\"necro-death\" data-death=\"2010-03-11\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/deathdays.cgi?month=3&amp;day=11\">March&nbsp;11<\/a>,&nbsp;2010 (Aged&nbsp;69-177d)<\/span>\n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Duarte,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/deathplaces.cgi?state=CA\">CA<\/a><\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/utahst\/\">Utah St.<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/merlin-olsen-1.html?__hstc=223721476.cac1cbfbbac026eea66d710d2d74d7b8.1707762943923.1708976805773.1708981169413.51&amp;__hssc=223721476.6.1708981169413&amp;__hsfp=872485192\">College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 116 (53rd overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93b92e57\">Logan<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=UT\">UT<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/den\/1962_draft.htm\">Denver Broncos<\/a> in the 1st round (2nd overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/1962_AFL\/draft.htm\">1962 AFL Draft<\/a>., \n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/ram\/1962_draft.htm\">Los Angeles Rams<\/a> in the 1st round (3rd overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/1962\/draft.htm\">1962 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hall of Fame<\/strong>: Inducted as \n\t\tPlayer in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/1982-ballot.htm\">1982<\/a>\n(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/\">Full&nbsp;List<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n<p><\/p>\n\n    \n\n\n<p><strong>Relatives<\/strong>: Brothers&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/O\/OlseOr20.htm\">Orrin&nbsp;Olsen<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/O\/OlsePh20.htm\">Phil&nbsp;Olsen<\/a>; Nephew&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/O\/OlseHa20.htm\">Hans&nbsp;Olsen<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"important special\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/\">Hall of Fame<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/probowl\/\">14x Pro Bowl<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">5x All-Pro<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">HOF All-1960s Team<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">HOF All-1970s Team<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">1974 Bert Bell Award<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=ram&amp;number=74\" class=\"poptip\">\n           74 \n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=ram&amp;number=74\" class=\"poptip default\">\n           74 \n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+1<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>208<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>167<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Sk<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>91.0<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Merlin Olsen has the most Pro Bowl selections of any defensive tackle with 14 in his 15-year career. The only season in which the Los Angeles Ram did not make the Pro Bowl was his final season, 1976. This remarkable consistency of excellence at the position should place him in anyone\u2019s all-time NFL defensive tackle rankings. The multi-talented Olsen found success in his post-playing career as a television actor with a role in Little House on the Prairie and later a leading role in Father Murphy. Olsen was inducted into the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/1982-ballot.htm\">Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"nothumb\">\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/R\/RandJo00.htm\">John Randle<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    John Anthony Randle\n    \n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: DT-DE\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>6-1<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>290lb<\/span>&nbsp;(185cm,&nbsp;131kg) <\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=12&amp;day=12\">December 12<\/a>,&nbsp;1967\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Hearne,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=TX\">TX<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span> <span>(Age:&nbsp;56-076d)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/texasamkingsville\/\">Texas A&amp;M-Kingsville<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 108 (86th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93bb7246\">Hearne<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=TX\">TX<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hall of Fame<\/strong>: Inducted as \n\t\tPlayer in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/2010-ballot.htm\">2010<\/a>\n(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/\">Full&nbsp;List<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n<p><\/p>\n\n    \n\n\n<p><strong>Relatives<\/strong>: Brother&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/R\/RandEr20.htm\">Ervin&nbsp;Randle<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"important special\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/\">Hall of Fame<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/probowl\/\">7x Pro Bowl<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">6x All-Pro<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">HOF All-1990s Team<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=min&amp;number=93\" class=\"poptip\">\n           93 \n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=sea&amp;number=93\" class=\"poptip\">\n           93 \n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=sea&amp;number=93\" class=\"poptip default\">\n           93 \n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+2<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>219<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>139<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Sk<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>137.5<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Solo<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>471<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FF<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>29<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Any list of NFL defensive tackle rankings must include John Randle. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/leaders\/sacks_career.htm\">Randle\u2019s 137.5 sacks make him the sack leader among NFL defensive tackles since sacks became an official recorded stat in 1982<\/a>. Undrafted out of Texas A&amp;M\u2013Kingsville, Randle was signed by the Minnesota Vikings in 1990 and by 1993 would make his first of six All-Pro teams. Randle played 11 years in Minnesota before spending the final three years of his career with the Seattle Seahawks. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/2010-ballot.htm\">He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"nothumb\">\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/W\/WhitRa00.htm\">Randy White<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n  \n  \n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Randy Lee White\n    &nbsp;(<span>Manster or  Captain Scab<\/span>)\n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: DT-LB-DE\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>6-4<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>257lb<\/span>&nbsp;(193cm,&nbsp;116kg) <\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=1&amp;day=15\">January 15<\/a>,&nbsp;1953\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Pittsburgh,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=PA\">PA<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span> <span>(Age:&nbsp;71-042d)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/maryland\/\">Maryland<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t&nbsp;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/randy-white-2.html?__hstc=223721476.cac1cbfbbac026eea66d710d2d74d7b8.1707762943923.1708976805773.1708981169413.51&amp;__hssc=223721476.8.1708981169413&amp;__hsfp=872485192\">College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 116 (53rd overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93b8713e\">Thomas McKean<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=DE\">DE<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/dal\/1975_draft.htm\">Dallas Cowboys<\/a> in the 1st round (2nd overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/1975\/draft.htm\">1975 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hall of Fame<\/strong>: Inducted as \n\t\tPlayer in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/1994-ballot.htm\">1994<\/a>\n(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/\">Full&nbsp;List<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n<p><\/p>\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"important special\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/\">Hall of Fame<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/probowl\/\">9x Pro Bowl<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">7x All-Pro<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/super-bowl\/\">1x SB Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">SB XII MVP<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">HOF All-1980s Team<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">1978 UPI Def. PoY<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=dal&amp;number=54\" class=\"poptip default\">\n           54 \n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>209<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>150<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Sk<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>111.0<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It took Randy White until the age of 24 to end up playing defensive tackle, but once he settled into the position with the Dallas Cowboys, he became one of the best defensive tackles in NFL history. The nine-time Pro Bowler and seven-time All-Pro was named the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/boxscores\/197801150dal.htm\">co-MVP of Super Bowl XII<\/a> and remains the only defensive tackle to be named Super Bowl MVP. Though he spent half of his 14-season career in an era in which sacks were not officially recorded, Pro Football Reference credits him with 111 in total. The lifetime Cowboy retired after the 1988 season and was inducted into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/1994-ballot.htm\">Canton<\/a> in 1994.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"nothumb\">\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/K\/KennCo00.htm\">Cortez Kennedy<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n  \n  \n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Cortez C. Kennedy\n    &nbsp;(<span>Tez<\/span>)\n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: DT\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>6-3<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>305lb<\/span>&nbsp;(190cm,&nbsp;138kg) <\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=8&amp;day=23\">August 23<\/a>,&nbsp;1968\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Osceola,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=AR\">AR<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<p><strong>Died:<\/strong>\n    <span id=\"necro-death\" data-death=\"2017-05-23\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/deathdays.cgi?month=5&amp;day=23\">May&nbsp;23<\/a>,&nbsp;2017 (Aged&nbsp;48-273d)<\/span>\n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Orlando,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/deathplaces.cgi?state=FL\">FL<\/a><\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/nwmississippicc\/\">Northwest Mississippi CC<\/a>, \n\t\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/miami(fl)\/\">Miami (FL)<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 97 (178th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93bdcfa1\">Rivercrest<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=AR\">AR<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/sea\/1990_draft.htm\">Seattle Seahawks<\/a> in the 1st round (3rd overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/1990\/draft.htm\">1990 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hall of Fame<\/strong>: Inducted as \n\t\tPlayer in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/2012-ballot.htm\">2012<\/a>\n(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/\">Full&nbsp;List<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n<p><\/p>\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"important special\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/\">Hall of Fame<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/probowl\/\">8x Pro Bowl<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">3x All-Pro<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">HOF All-1990s Team<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">1992 AP Def. PoY<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">1992 PFWA Def. PoY<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=sea&amp;number=96\" class=\"poptip\">\n           96 \n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=sea&amp;number=99\" class=\"poptip default\">\n           99 \n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+1<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>167<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>119<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Sk<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>58.0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Solo<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>569<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FF<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>11<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>At 6\u20193\u201d and 305 lbs, Cortez Kennedy possessed a rare athleticism for an NFL defensive tackle of his size. Kennedy was a pass rushing menace with the ability to counter even the most athletic running backs. After earning a role as a starter in his second season, Kennedy made the Pro Bowl every year except his final 2000 season and an injury-shortened 1997 campaign. He was named <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/awards_1992.htm#all_voting_apdpoy\">AP Defensive Player of the Year during the 1992 season<\/a> when he forced four fumbles and recorded 14 sacks. Kennedy was inducted into the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/2012-ballot.htm\">Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012<\/a> and sadly passed away in 2017 at the age of 48.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"nothumb\">\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/B\/BuchBu00.htm\">Buck Buchanan<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n    Junious Buchanan\n    \n  <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\t<strong>Position<\/strong>: DT\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n<p><span>6-7<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>270lb<\/span>&nbsp;(201cm,&nbsp;122kg) <\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n  <strong>Born:<\/strong> \n    <span>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.cgi?month=9&amp;day=10\">September 10<\/a>,&nbsp;1939\n    \n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Gainesville,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.cgi?country=USA&amp;state=AL\">AL<\/a><\/span>\n  \n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<p><strong>Died:<\/strong>\n    <span id=\"necro-death\" data-death=\"1992-07-16\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/deathdays.cgi?month=7&amp;day=16\">July&nbsp;16<\/a>,&nbsp;1992 (Aged&nbsp;52-310d)<\/span>\n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Kansas City,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/friv\/deathplaces.cgi?state=MO\">MO<\/a><\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n\n<p><strong>College<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/gramblingst\/\">Grambling St.<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/about\/approximate_value.htm\">Weighted Career AV (100-95-&#8230;)<\/a>:<\/strong> 96 (190th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>High School<\/strong>: \n  \n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?id=93ba2e0a\">A.H. Parker<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/schools\/high_schools.cgi?hs_state=AL\">AL<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Draft<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/kan\/1963_draft.htm\">Kansas City Chiefs<\/a> in the 1st round (1st overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/1963_AFL\/draft.htm\">1963 AFL Draft<\/a>., \n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/teams\/nyg\/1963_draft.htm\">New York Giants<\/a> in the 19th round (265th overall) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/years\/1963\/draft.htm\">1963 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hall of Fame<\/strong>: Inducted as \n\t\tPlayer in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/1990-ballot.htm\">1990<\/a>\n(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/\">Full&nbsp;List<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n<p><\/p>\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"important special\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/\">Hall of Fame<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/probowl\/\">8x Pro Bowl<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/awards\/\">4x All-Pro<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/super-bowl\/\">1x SB Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>2x AFL Champ<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder pfr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/uniform.cgi?team=kan&amp;number=86\" class=\"poptip default\">\n           86 \n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>182<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AV<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>125<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p1\">\n<div class=\"p2\">\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>Sk<\/strong><\/span>\n<p>70.5<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Towering at 6\u20197\u201d and 270 lbs, Buck Buchanan would be an NFL defensive tackle of notable size in today&#8217;s game. In the 1960s and 1970s, his size made him a complete anomaly. Buchanan used this size to his advantage. In his 13-year career, Buchanan made eight Pro Bowls and helped the Kansas City Chiefs win <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/boxscores\/197001110kan.htm\">Super Bowl IV<\/a>. He spent his entire career in Kansas City and retired following the 1975 season. In 1990, he was inducted into the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/hof\/1990-ballot.htm\">Pro Football Hall of Fame<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1708981558051\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Who is the best defensive tackle in the NFL today?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">There were a lot of talented and tough defensive tackles in the NFL in 2025. However, most NFL fans, players, coaches and reporters would say Chris Jones, Leonard Williams, Jalen Carter, and Cameron Heyward are some of the best defensive tackles in the NFL. <\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1768330714488\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Who is the best defensive tackle in NFL history?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">While the question of who the best defensive tackle in NFL history is very subjective, it is tough to argue against Joe Greene. Greene was a 10-time Pro Bowler, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and a four-time Super Bowl champ. He is one of the greatest NFL players ever, at any position.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>Join our Sports Reference Community<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<h3><strong><em>Of Statheads:<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.stathead.com\/sport\/football\">Subscribe to Stathead<\/a>, the most powerful research tools in sports, and find any player, team, season, game, and any play. With over 80 different search tools for baseball, basketball, football, and hockey, you\u2019ve got infinite answers at your finger tips.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stathead.com\/sport\/football\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Stathead-1024x180.png\" alt=\"Purple Stathead sign up button. Get your first month free. \" class=\"wp-image-19\" width=\"271\" height=\"47\"><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<h3><strong><em>With Our Email Newsletters:<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p>Sign up for our newsletter and get curated stats, recaps, and more from the Pro Football Reference to your inbox every morning. No commitment, unsubscribe at any time.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/email\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/pfr-fbr-1.png\" alt=\"Green Pro Football Reference newsletter sign up button\" class=\"wp-image-15\" width=\"161\" height=\"51\"><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<h3><strong><em>On Social Media:<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p>Stay connected with Pro Football Reference on social media! Bringing you stats, trivia, and more on all our channels daily.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/pfref\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Twitter<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/profootballreference\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Pro.Football.Reference\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Facebook<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@profootballreference\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TikTok<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/sportsreference\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YouTube<\/a> &#8211;  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/SportsReference\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Reddit<\/a> &#8211; <strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/sports-reference-llc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p><em>Follow the rest of the Sports Reference sites on social <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/blog\/sports-reference-social-media\/\">here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(last updated on January 13, 2026) Defensive tackle is not one of the most glamorous positions in football, but it is crucial in any defensive scheme. NFL defenses need strong defensive tackles to pressure the quarterback and stop the run. Across eras in the NFL, some of the biggest, strongest and toughest defenders have played [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Top NFL Defensive Tackles of All Time - Pro Football Reference<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Checkout the list of best defensive tackles of all time on pro-football-reference.com\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/2024\/03\/10-best-defensive-tackles-of-all-time\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"10 Best Defensive Tackles of All Time\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Checkout the list of best defensive tackles of all time on pro-football-reference.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/2024\/03\/10-best-defensive-tackles-of-all-time\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Pro Football Reference\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-03-23T02:42:42+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-13T19:40:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/PFR-Social-Preview-Images-Evergreen-Blog-Posts-1-2.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Andrew Weiser\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"10 Best Defensive Tackles of All Time\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Checkout the list of best defensive tackles of all time on pro-football-reference.com\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/PFR-Social-Preview-Images-Evergreen-Blog-Posts-1-2.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Andrew Weiser\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pro-football-reference.com\\\/pfr-blog\\\/2024\\\/03\\\/10-best-defensive-tackles-of-all-time\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pro-football-reference.com\\\/pfr-blog\\\/2024\\\/03\\\/10-best-defensive-tackles-of-all-time\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Andrew Weiser\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pro-football-reference.com\\\/pfr-blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/245937c45ed9535e1690ecadc57459a4\"},\"headline\":\"Top NFL Defensive Tackles of All Time\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-03-23T02:42:42+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-13T19:40:30+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pro-football-reference.com\\\/pfr-blog\\\/2024\\\/03\\\/10-best-defensive-tackles-of-all-time\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2260,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pro-football-reference.com\\\/pfr-blog\\\/2024\\\/03\\\/10-best-defensive-tackles-of-all-time\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pro-football-reference.com\\\/req\\\/20230307\\\/images\\\/headshots\\\/DonaAa00_2023.jpg\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pro-football-reference.com\\\/pfr-blog\\\/2024\\\/03\\\/10-best-defensive-tackles-of-all-time\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pro-football-reference.com\\\/pfr-blog\\\/2024\\\/03\\\/10-best-defensive-tackles-of-all-time\\\/\",\"name\":\"Top NFL Defensive Tackles of All Time - 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