Top 10 Most Feared Tacklers

When Michael Jordan was winning NBA titles he was once asked who was the toughest defender he ever played against. Without thinking about it he said, "Lawrence Taylor!" The interviewer said, "Lawrence Taylor was a football player!" Michael said, "Yeah, and he played basketball the same way!" Michael Jordan and Lawrence Taylor played college ball at UNC.

Butkus won Defensive Player of the Year in 69 when Chicago went 1-13. That says it all.

LT being first to jump up and call to the Skins sidelines was a class move. Plus, he was clearly horrified by what he had just rolled off of.

My dad used to wrestle me as a kid and when he'd tackle me he'd say "Butkus hits him!". I didn't even know what the word "Butkus" meant at that time, but I knew the name. The man was in awe of Butkus his entire life.

Butkus won a DPOY on a 1 win team. Beastly.

Gary Fencik #45, and Doug Plank #46 were huge hitters for the Bears in the 70's and 80's. Rushers trying to evade one often got blown up by the other. Great stuff.

RIP Dick Butkus… without question, the best to ever do it 🙏🏼

Isaac - Thank You!... I am so pleased that Steve Atwater was included on this list... I covered the Broncos back in the 1980's and all anyone ever wanted to talk about was John Elway (deserving undeniably) but there were 21 other Broncos out on the field with him and Steve was just as important to - Wade Phillips' & Greg Robinson's - Broncos defense as John was to Dan Reeves & Mike Shanahan's offense... A deserving Hall-of-Famer and a GREAT (and humble) person, Steve Atwater!

Dick Butkus. Born and raised in Chicago. Only played 9 years but made 8 Pro-Bowls and was a 2 time Defensive Player of the Year. He is the Monster of the Midway.

"Football is hitting.Butkus is the ultimate hitter"-Jim Brown.

There were so many great tacklers, but the two greatest that I have ever seen was Dick Butkus and Jack Tatum. Unbelievable how they could reach peak acceleration at impact.

Good to see Night Train Lane getting the respect he deserves

Deacon Jones. I know he was a lineman, but he was so fast, strong and just plain brutal to watch.

49ers trainer: Ronnie, we cant let you play with a broken pinky tip" Ronnie Lott: "if we cut it off, it's not broken anymore" Trainer : *"What?"* Ronnie: *"What?!"*

He's not talked about much any more, but Chuck Cecil was one of the hardest hitters I've ever seen. He even appeared on an SI cover that asked if he was too dangerous for the NFL.

Playing football through high school it was a amazing how some guys could hit you like a ton of bricks. And the really hard hitters were not necessarily big. They tended to be fast and absolutely fearless.

Steve Atwater doesn't get remembered nearly enough. I feel like younger people nowadays probably don't even know who he is.

I'm a Viking fan, and our center back then, Mick Tinglehoff said: "When Butkus retired it added 2 years to my career."

6:11: Aww Coach Reeves. Rest In Peace, my friend. Thank you for the memories here in Denver.

Sean Taylor was one of the hardest hitters ever. RIP Sean

My dad played with Singletary at Baylor and he said they used to keep 3 helmets on the bench with his number on them because he would usually break atleast 2 per half.

I could listen to LT all day. Him casually saying, "son, y'all gotta do better than this." while standing over the qb shaking his head is probably my favorite NFL one liner. 😂😂😂

My boy Lyle Alzado was a monster hitter too. He was a tad before my time, but I remember watching plenty of highlight videos on him. He was a pure monster.

This list got #1 right for sure. I have watched pro football for 66 years and Butkus was hands down # 1, no one even close. The most destructive defensive player to ever play the game. I watched every game he ever played. He played a game with cracked ribs and tackled guys the same as he did in these clips. If you have ever had cracked ribs, which I have had, you know how fierce this guy was to play in that kind of pain. He and Gayle Sayers packed Wrigley field when the Bears teams were not worth the price of admission. The two of them were, "you have to see them to believe them type players".

I grew up in the same neighborhood as Dick in the 50's and 60's. He was a legend from the time he went to CVS high school. His brothers owned a moving company and were also tough guys.

Even though it was only one tackle, the beauty of Steve Largents tackle and fumble recovery on Mike Harden of Denver gets him a spot on this imo. As far as defensive backs go I like how Ronnie Lott described getting a big hit. "Actually, getting a big hit means you were a little late on your coverage."

Actually Earl wasn't ready for the hit and it was a big hit, yet he kept going after the initial impact. That is a testament to how tough Earl was and how big of a hitter Tatum was.

David Fulcher and Terry Hoage were a couple of monsters, as well. The most recent heavy hitter that left quite an impression on me, is Parrish Cox. Dude was vicious.

The game has changed so much, Ray Lewis, kam chancellor, Brian Dawkins, Sean Taylor were some of the most feared hitters I saw.

Jack Lambert's second career was as a Game Warden. I can not imagine giving him a hard time when he said "may I please see your license."

Lawrence Taylor was better than we remember. He could be the best football player ever. Seriously, he was the only defensive player I've ever seen straight take over and win a game that his team was, 100 percent going to lose, after leaving in first half with an injury. It's incredible to say I know, but he is underrated.

I've seen that Atwater hit on okoye a bunch of times. One thing these highlights always leave out - Okoye ran Atwater over the next time atwater tried to tackle him

85% of these hits would draw a penalty now.

I was a kid during the 70's and I really feel like this was the best time in the history of the NFL. MEL BLOUNT was the biggest hitting DB I ever saw personally. He was a game changer.

17:27 - 17:56 what that man said about Ray Lewis perfectly encapsulates Ray his whole career. Every player could just see it in his eyes, hear it from his voice and by the way he played that he was a beast. He had that mystique, that bad ass element

Listening to the radio call by Frank, Sonny and Sam while driving to a buddy's place to watch Giants/Redskins on a Monday night, the announcers and the crowd go silent after Taylor sacks Theismann. Then the announcers watch the reply and are shocked almost to the point of being mute - hushed/grave sounding voices. I get to my buddy's place, rush in without knocking and find a disturbing silence. I ask "WTF happened?" Their response was "it's horrible, you just gotta see it." In my life it's only topped by the Krumrie injury.

Jack Tatum is slam-dunk #1 on my list. It appears many in this comment section agree. I noticed someone here suggested Doug Plank as worth mentioning. Good call. I think he get's overlooked because I don't think his career was all that long and that he wasn't really above average in terms of overall talent. But he'd lay the wood on any receiver coming over the middle.

I was at the University of Arkansas when Steve Atwater was there and know him personally. He and Dan Hampton shutdown the triple option offense in the old Southwest Conference so thoroughly that teams like Texas and SMU never ran it again against them.

Ronnie Lot and Brian Dawkins my favorites of all time 🏈

Two notable omissions: Kenny Easley (whom Ronnie Lott called the hardest hitting player he's ever seen) and one of the few players besides LT at that time who forced offenses to change their game plans, and Kam Chancellor, enforcer of the Legion of Boom, who was flagged frequently for legal hits because they were so violent the ref thought it should be illegal. KZhead Chancellor vs Winston and watch a 225lb safety stand his ground and break a 310 pound pulling lineman in half (and still tackle the RB for a loss).

Tatum is the only guy who hit another player so hard he indirectly cost his team a Super Bowl - No way that ball gets jarred 30 feet into the air into Franco's hands if it was some other guy hitting the receiver.

Football is a collision sport; Jack Tatum was as good a collider as I've ever seen... Classic!!

Dick Butkus was different. Remember Nautilus equipment? In 1973, Butkus went to Deland, FL the home of Nautilus (invented by Arthur Jones) to do an intense workout supervised by Jones. Intense enough for Dick to throw-up during the workout. He left. However, only to clean up then come back and finish the workout. Then he left for good. Like I said, Dick Butkus was different. May he RIP.

What an intense ground shaking video where I could feel those hits right thru the screen bam loved it

I know this list is old, but you have to add James Harrison to this list. The league basically took tackling out of the game after he knocked out two Browns players in a row.

Chuck Bednarik the last 60-minute man deserves a mention.

These are great, Isaac. I found these NFL compilation shows helped me through Covid in 2020, and still do. Thanks for posting.

Your never gonna see a Top Ten Feared Tacklers again, with this new NFL.

John Lynch might have laid a good hit on Barry, but Barry also put an all-time juke on him. Froze him in the hole, planted his foot and went on a dead sprint 80 yards to the end zone. Check the film I'm sure it's on KZhead.

Night Train's hits are probably the hardest and most reckless hits I've ever seen from a defensive back. I bet he absolutely terrified the receivers in the league that had to go against him

Sean Taylor was the hardest hitter in the NFL that I have ever seen on the Washington Redskins. Not only his hitting was unmatched but his athleticism as well.

Best list ever....great post.

If Sean Taylor could of played longer we know he be on this list🙏🏼

Lucky enough and old enough to be a Raiders fan since ‘65 and watched Jack Tatum. Our Defense back then was truly scary.

All of them are 100% badasses. Razorback Atwater#1 Seen every home games, 4 road games, 1 bowl game, 1 pro game, stayed at the same hotels of the college games, got to visit with him about 40 minutes 6× each time. Awesome to talk to him and watch.

Another worthy entry to the list would be Sean Taylor. Had Sean had a 10-year or more career, he would have been the most feared tackler amongst safeties in the last 30 years

Story about Butkus. Offensive player, "he bit my finger!" Butkus, "let me see, nope wasn't me. You still have your finger."

How do you leave Brian Dawkins off this list? His hit in the NFC Championship game against Atlanta was bone jarring. He was a ball hawk who laid the boom on anyone who came near him.

I wish Patrick Willis didn’t retire so early. He was a beast and definitely one of the hardest hitters I’ve ever seen.

Man, I loved this video! Lambert, Tatum and Butkus were my favorites. As a Lions fan, I'm too young to remember Night Train Lane. I remember the Super Bowl when Cliff Harris dissed Roy Gerela and Lambert threw him to the ground. I wasn't a Steelers fan but, man, it was fun to see Lambert wreak havoc on the Cowboys after that. I loved Roger Staubach but guys like Cliff Harris turned me into a Cowboy hater. I loved watching Jack Tatum absolutely destroy receivers. He was the ultimate Raider. Butkus was before my time but my Dad told me great stories, especially since they played the Lions so much.

It is near impossible to include every single guy who was truly feared as a tackler. #31 Donnie Shell for the Pittsburgh Steelers is one that comes to mind. While I don't think he belongs in the top 10, I do believe he, along with quite a few others, deserved an honorable mention.

As a Baltimore Colts season ticket holder I had the opportunity to see these guys play in real time.....back when the game was all about the hitting.....no intentional cheap shots....just good old fashioned street fights.....

These men are people ive always respected . Football is violent sport. They dedicated their hearts and minds.

Bravo to all on the list and as time passes, some will drop off and others added. To draft Butkus and Sayers in the 1965 draft, you’d think they’d be unstoppable. But a quarterback was also needed. So the all pro play of those 2 just wasn’t enough. They couldn’t have played harder, yet you need a team.

I was a kid in '72 or '73, and Dick Butkus came to my house to throw passes to me and my kid brother. True story. (Thinking now it was summer of 1971-- see my comment below).

No Deacon Jones!!! Come on. He should head slap whoever made the list.

👨🏿‍💻 Thank you for this! 👏🏿👏🏾👏🏽👏👏🏼👏🏻

Jack Tatum was the Grim Reaper. Everybody on here is in the Hall of Fame but Jack. I think it's a damn shame that this man died and never got into the Hall. I can't respect the HOF.

I saw Steve Atwater recently at a spine doctor’s office in Denver. My back is messed up and I get weekly cortisone shots. We chatted and talked about music in the waiting room for a few minutes. I was in a band that was a big deal in town many years ago. We even played at the 99’ Broncos ring party. What a cool dude he is. My favorite Bronco of all time. But I was too embarrassed to show him my tattoo on my calf of him leveling Christian Okoye.

that clip in the end where butkus stops the running back and holds on to him while his legs keep churning and hes going nowhere is very underrated. imagine the strength involved in being able to stop a human like that.

One or 2 great hits does not make someone a "feared" tackler, al la Atwater and a few others. The 2 guys I saw that hit hard and made other players "flinch" were Butkus and Mike Curtis. Both seemed to like to hurt other players and they knew it. Tatum, Cliff Harris and Doug Plank should also be considered.

Mike Curtis absolutely has to be on the list.

I like how the Jack Tatum/Earl Campbell play is looked at differently in this episode vs the Power Backs episode.

Lawrence Taylor is one of only two defensive players in the history of the game to win the NFL MVP award. He was a freak of nature who had the size and strength to push through offensive lineman on his way to the quarterback and the speed to chase down running backs and catch them from behind. The man deserves to be at the top of any defensive list and is arguably the greatest player to ever play the game.

As a lifelong Eagles fan, I loves the mention at the end of Comcrete Charlie's big hit in Frank Gifford! I'm surprised Bill Romanowski didn't make the list.

I was just wondering who #'s 2-9 would be. I was just a child when Butkus played, but between film clips and testimonials from former players, it was no surprise to me. Spent a lifetime watching Ray Lewis and Jack Lambert destroy Bengals players twice a year, every year.

Great start to my Monday! You’re underrated af!!

I think Barry Sanders should've made the list for making opponents tackle themselves

I think it's crazy how Jack Lambert is in this list. Not because I think he doesn't deserve to be, but he's downright skinny for his position, but is recognized a one of the hardest hitting middle linebackers of all time. That's pretty damn impressive.

L.T. Was great ! Butkus was a nightmare in relentless collision ! The best.

In The Early To Late 70's #46 DOUG PLANK Of The Chicago Bears Was Simply Vicious

Ray Nitschke, Alex Karras, Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, Lyle Alzado, LC Greenwood, Alan Page and Mean Joe Greene...just to name a few!!

All in all pretty good call man . So many great players. Ray Nitsky Randy While Lyle Alzedo just so many lol. # 1 for sure, Dick Butkis. Good job.

I saw Brian Bosworth played in Meadowlands and hit New York Jets wide receiver AL Toon . Al was out for 2 weeks that hit 🎯 was so hard we felt it.

Should we give a mention for Chuck Bednarik (aka Concrete Charlie) of the Philadelphia Eagles? Apart from being the last NFL player to play all 60 minutes of a game full-time (long after the one-platoon system had been phased out), two hits in 1960 stand out as examples of ferocity: levelling Frank Gifford and putting him out of action for 18 months, and a devastating hit on the Packer's Jim Taylor to win the Eagles that year's Championship (their last until 2017). I think I would need a top 20, but these 10 would make it.

I am a Green Bay Packers fan for life. Ray Nitschke not being on the list is an affront (probably could've been anywhere from 7-10), but there is only one #1, and that is Dick Butkus. I remember old games where my dad would tell me that it felt like Butkus was out to kill people on the field.

I had a guy like this on my high school team name Richie. He couldn't bench much, couldn't run that fast, and was medium-sized. But when he hit you, every time, it was like a bus hit you. Not sure how.

Sean Taylor may he rest in piece definitely should have made the top ten, or at the very least recieved an honorable mention.

You're absolutely right to put Butkus at #1. He was the role model for a good many who came after him. Boy , he was scary even to a gal sitting in the stands!

Sean Taylor man. He would’ve been on here for sure. That dude hit like a freight train for a DB. RIP 🙏🏻

I wanna make an honorable mention Ricky Jackson was the terror of most quarterbacks in his day.

Can't leave out Dennis Smith. Cohort of Ronnie Lott in the USC secondary, then of Steve Atwater in the Denver Broncos secondary. He once took out two pulling linemen so his linebacker could tackle the running back.

Eddie George wasn’t intimidated by Ray Lewis, he respected his ability to deliver a hard hit & mess up the play so George made sure he knew where Lewis was during each play.

Jack Tatum should be ranked higher. Does anyone remember the hit he put on Lynn Swan? L. S. was doing wind sprints behind bench and wouldn’t stop, most of the player there said that they believe he suffered a concussion after which he refused to return to the game.

I enjoyed seeing lambert protecting his teammate and laying it down. Thats how you set the tone thats how you earn respect and thats how you rally your team.

I saw every pro game Ronnie Lott played for the 49ers and I don't remember a game he didn't stop the ball carrier dead in his tracks at least once. The greatest hardest hitting Safety I've ever seen. My Uncle had season tickets to the 49ers in the '50s and told me about Hardy Brown. Said nobody wanted any part of him but they got it anyway

Why does Joey browner always get overlooked, he was a beast!!

You are an absolute legend for uploading this. I tried to make a very patchy playlist of this but it was no where near complete. Hope you're all well and good. Edit - just wanted to take the time to say; Lynch's tackle on his brother in law knocked him out but he still held onto the ball. That's impressive.

When they used to let them play, and hit. Love these old vids.

Damn that was awesome