{"id":426,"date":"2024-03-27T12:53:07","date_gmt":"2024-03-27T16:53:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/?p=426"},"modified":"2025-12-23T14:57:30","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T18:57:30","slug":"10-best-nose-tackles-of-all-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/2024\/03\/10-best-nose-tackles-of-all-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Top NFL Nose Tackles of All Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

(last updated on December 23, 2025)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nose guard goes by multiple monikers in football circles. Other aliases for the defensive line player positioned between the \u201cA\u201d gaps are nose tackle, zero technique, nose guard, and middle guard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How to Recognize the Best Nose Tackles in NFL History<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help us along the way, we will look at tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, Pro Bowl selections, All-Pro counts, Hall of Fame inductions, games started, and years played in the NFL at the position as tangible evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Combined Tackles Leaders<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first statistic we will test is combined tackles. Using some criteria entered into Stathead<\/a>, we came up with some candidates for our best-ever nose tackles, at least since the stat has been tracked and the position was identified to the player.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\n\n
\n\t

\n\t\tJason Ferguson<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n \n

\n \n Jason O. Ferguson\n \n <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\tPosition<\/strong>: DT-NT\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n

6-3<\/span>, 310lb<\/span> (190cm, 140kg) <\/p>\n\n\n

\n Born:<\/strong> \n \n\t\tNovember 28<\/a>, 1974\n \n \n in Nettleton, MS<\/a><\/span>\n \n<\/span> (Age: 49-103d)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

College<\/strong>: \n \n\t\tGeorgia<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p>

Weighted Career AV (100-95-…)<\/a>:<\/strong> 50 (1700th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

High School<\/strong>: \n \n\t\tNettleton<\/a> (MS<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Draft<\/strong>: New York Jets<\/a> in the 7th round (229th overall) of the 1997 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>\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t

\n\t\n 72 \n\t<\/a>\n\t\n 72 \n\t<\/a>\n\t\n 95 \n\t<\/a>\n\t\n 95 \n\t<\/a>\n\t
+3<\/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
\n
\nSUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n\n

Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

\n
\nG<\/strong><\/span>\n

159<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nAV<\/strong><\/span>\n

62<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>

\n
\nSk<\/strong><\/span>\n

21.5<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nSolo<\/strong><\/span>\n

350<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nFF<\/strong><\/span>\n

6<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>, Ferguson soon showed his worth in clogging the middle by posting 350 solo tackles and six forced fumbles. Jason registered over 500 combined takedowns of ball carriers, including 21.5 career NFL sacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n\t
\n\t\n\n
\"Photo\n<\/div>
\n\t

\n\t\tVince Wilfork<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n \n

\n \n Vincent Lamar Wilfork\n \n <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\tPosition<\/strong>: NT-DT\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n

6-2<\/span>, 325lb<\/span> (188cm, 147kg) <\/p>\n\n\n

\n Born:<\/strong> \n \n\t\tNovember 4<\/a>, 1981\n \n \n in Boynton Beach, FL<\/a><\/span>\n \n<\/span> (Age: 42-127d)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

College<\/strong>: \n \n\t\tMiami (FL)<\/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> 90 (270th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

High School<\/strong>: \n \n\t\tSantaluces<\/a> (FL<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Draft<\/strong>: New England Patriots<\/a> in the 1st round (21st overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n

Twitter:<\/strong>\n @wilfork75<\/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