. Ive been very fortunate to be around greatness this weekend. Roby earned First Team All-Big Ten honors after the. With that said, 30. Green had 54 career interceptions, seven Pro Bowl selections, and once was a first-team All-Pro. Not just cornerback, but any player regardless of position. In the last game played for the team, he collected over 150 combined receiving and rushing yards, alongside ten tackles. Racked up 231 career tackles, the most by any cornerback in program history. We should note that Aeneas Williams led the league in interceptions during his second season in the NFL. #803 of 880. You have to believe in yourself. During his time playing for the Steelers, Woodson scored six defensive touchdowns and twenty forced fumbles. Donald has not only finished first in pass rush win rate at defensive tackle in all five seasons of the metric's existence, but his worst PRWR season in that span (24.2% in 2020) is more than two . pic.twitter.com/UIf1rstvZ0, Im a firm believer that if you want to create change, you better start with your friends and your family, Bailey said. Tom Brady has played the most NFL games at quarterback, 335. He also picked off three passes in Super Bowl competition, including two thrown by Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach. After spending five seasons with the Falcons, Sanders signed for the San Francisco 49ers. So, you young people set your goals high, you know, it can happen for you. But that didnt matter much, because the menacing cornerback kept most opposing players from getting open in the first place. He was ranked by NFL network as the 2nd most feared tackler to ever play the game. In total he was named All-Pro twice while earning Pro-Bowl recognition 3x's. The 11-time Pro Bowler could do it all, from picking off passes to tackling, creating fumbles, and rushing the passer. Knup Sports works with a number of event companies in the sports betting & iGaming industry. Mel Blount Honorable Mentions FAQ Who are the best NFL cornerbacks of all time? An important part of the Indianapolis defensive backfield, the CB position requires fast players to cover receivers, defend against pass offenses, and make tackles. I believe my skills and talents were manifested., Barney went on to say in his Hall of Fame enshrinement speech that (f)ootball for (him) for 20 years was a way of life.. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. The one-time Super Bowl champion was also named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1993, and he made it to the First-Team All-Pro six times during his career. After leaving the Redskins, five teams wanted to sign him, but he accepted the offer by the Baltimore Ravens. I just wandered. The #Rams have had trade talks about six-time Pro Bowl CB Jalen Ramsey and league sources now believe it's very likely Ramsey is dealt in coming weeks. So that I could pick up keys that would allow me to release my decoy pattern a step before I might have. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. The gathering of football legends. Widely considered the best CB of all time, Rod Woodson started his college football career at Purdue University. One of the things that I found out about greatness, is the character. A post shared by Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey). Terrell Buckley 1 of 51 49. Blount was such a ferocious defender that the NFL implemented a rule change, named the "Mel Blount Rule," which eliminated contact with receivers five yards past the line of scrimmage. The twelve-time Pro Bowler was on top of the leagues ranks back in 2006 with ten interceptions. Tajuan Edward was born on the 10th of February in 1974 in Pennsylvania. Build your own custom leaderboards with Stathead Football. Sanders finished his superior career in the NFL with 54 interceptions, 1,331 interception yards, 60 receptions, 784 receiving yards, and 22 touchdowns. Life has been good to me and if I die tonight, I wouldnt die blue because I have experienced great things in life. The Bengals primarily ran a 5-2 base defense under Anarumo last year but would revert to a 4-3 at times involving subpackages against triple option teams, like the Baltimore Ravens during last . A blazing undersized corner carved out a 20-year career in the NFL, winning two Super Bowls and making the 1990s NFL All-Decade Team. #PFHOF19 #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/CsthjHvJih, I want to thank God for allowing me to be here and experience this with you guys, Law said. Blount ended his career in 1983 with 57 interceptions (13th in NFL history) and 736 return yards. He also holds the record for most consecutive seasons with an interception (19) and the most games played by a defensive player (295). Hawks vs Heat Player Props, For Saturday, March 4th, Pistons vs Cavaliers Player Props, For Saturday, March 4th, Timberwolves vs Kings Player Props, For Saturday, March 4th, Raptors vs Wizards Player Props, For Saturday, March 4th. He finished his career in Atlanta with 24 intercepted yards and three returned touchdowns. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Chiefs Experience Trumps Eagles in Super Bowl LVII, Cardinals vs Titans Pick & Preview NFL Sep 12 Week 1, Somethings Gotta Give in These Week 3 Matchups, Vikings vs Packers Pick & Preview: NFL Week 17 Betting Odds, Raiders vs Saints Pick & Preview: NFL Week 8 Betting Odds. His professional NFL career kicked off during the NFL 1991 Draft when he joined the Arizona Cardinals, where he would stay for ten years. Ronnie Lott 4. Build your own custom leaderboards with Stathead Football. The team were dominating the league thanks to Mels superior defensive abilities. Dick Lane is easily the greatest tackling, and hardest hitting, cornerback of all time. Blount made a name for himself playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers for thirteen years, from 1970 to 1983, when he retired from the sport. He spent time as a return specialist and wide receiver. + Indicates Hall of Famer View Current Leaderboard See leaders through past seasons Leaders Share & Export Modify, Export & Share Table In 1978 the NFL implemented the Mel Blount rule making it illegal to make contact with the wide receiver more than 5 yards past the line of scrimmage. Discussing the best cornerbacks of all time, we also have to mention Darrell Green. Then he turned into one of the greatest cornerbacks ever.Introducing the 79th greatest player in NFL history, as part of #TheAthleticNFL100: Mike Haynes. https://t.co/egrrtZLtMj pic.twitter.com/wIC5Qh7VMG, to be a good player at that game I had to work hard. The dual-sport star competed in multiple Super Bowls, one World Series, and gained notoriety for his excellence on the field and his personality off of it. The run on talented cornerbacks continues as the Lions take Cam Smith with the 18th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Each quote from these players is an excerpt from their Hall of Fame enshrinement speech according to their page on the Pro Football Hall of Fame website. CBs making tackles on running plays; 2. Its challenged me to become a better man, husband, father, teammate, and human being on earth. Players must meet the minimum requirements to show up on this leaderboard. He was a good lock down cornerback, but a better return specialist. Thanks to The Pro Football Hall of Fames compilation of Hall of Fame players by position and Pro Football Focus Ben Linseys Cornerback Rankings: The 32 best outside cornerbacks entering the 2021 NFL season, which were good resources in compiling this list. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. The two-time Super Bowl champion made it to the First-Team All-Pro six times. He totaled 95 tackles, two tackles for loss and 11 interceptions over his career. Below are a few of the upcoming events to take note of. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. I want everybody over here to shout begin with the end in mind. Four-time Super Bowl champion Mel Blount helped make the Pittsburgh Steelers defense one of the most dominant in the league. From one true shutdown corner to a pair of all-purpose defensive backs, here are the top 10 cornerbacks in NFL history. I appreciate you. Ranking the 15 greatest cornerbacks in NFL history. Impressed. But before that happened, Sherman was good enough to earn a spot among the best cornerbacks ever. When officials took a closer look, he actually clocked in with a 4.67. Deion Sanders Charles Woodson Ronnie Lott Rod Woodson I am thankful for my brother, my sister who are here to witness this. Go back to religion after awhile away. Its bigger than me If you understand that, you understand that its bigger than you too, Woodson once said according to The Pro Football Hall of Fame. Build your own custom leaderboards with Stathead Football, Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. So on behalf of all the black men that Ive mentioned tonight, and many more out there, whove had the most of the same experiences that Ive had in my lifetime, we say this to all of our white friends: When we tell you about our fears, please listen. The greatest NFL cornerbacks of all time each held serve at the point of attack, never got beat deep, and were rarely even challenged. Smith is a well-rounded CB who played excellent against SEC competition.. In four years, three of which he played mostly outside cornerback, Clark played in 43 games. The first tweet there says 4.27, but the official NFL account tweeted out his verified time of 4.26 shortly after.. Turner's time is among the fastest in NFL Combine history. It was wrong in my day and it is wrong today. I have to go back to the beginning, Adderley said. Someone once said that love was the only game in town that is not called off because of darkness and love is powerful. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Mel Blount was so good they had to change the rules @steelers pic.twitter.com/PuO7awADLP. However, stats wont be able to tell everything about Bailey. Woodson later won a title in Super Bowl XXXV as a free safety for the Baltimore Ravens. I came from a beautiful family, a family that struggled in the deep south and instilled in their kids that you can do anything if you are willing to pay a price and you can be as good and you are just as good and it doesnt matter where you come from, it is where you are going that is what makes the difference between failure and success, Blount said. To be adaptable and also find ways to work on the craft and get the job done efficiently to be one of the best at the position. Gill and Marilyn Bird modeled not only how to be a great corner, but Gil and Marilyn, thank you. He also caught 47 passes for 744 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns, posted 84 rushing yards, and returned . Few players in #NFL history instilled more fear in players than CB Dick Night Train LaneLanes ferocious headhunting tactics led to the banishment of the clothesline tackle. This is one of the many others reasons behind his reputation as one of the best cornerbacks in NFL history. He missed most of the season after having reconstructive surgery but returned to play in the Steelers 27-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. He made over 1,100 tackles in his career, which led to him being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Read on to learn about the six best NFL cornerbacks of all time. Following the competition of his rookie season, the Associated Press named him the NFL Defensive Rookie of the season. The one-time Super Bowl champion spent the vast majority of his professional career playing for the New York Jets. His ability to play at an elite level for as long as he did makes him a standout corner during the modern era, but his skill at shutting down some of the best receivers in the NFL places him in the top five of all time at his position. NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah sized up some Patriots-type players in this year's draft, many who could be considered at 14th overall. You cant wait for somebody else to tell you that youre great. It took them a long time to be elevated to do the Lords work. The three-time Super Bowl champion started his college career playing for the University of Michigan. Your email address will not be published. Ty Law appears on our list of the top 10 cornerbacks of all time in the tenth place. The Patriots went on to win the Super Bowl that year, but Woodson finally got his ring with the Packers in Super Bowl XLV. . #NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/SvP7Fu2g7W, Since I got drafted to Detroit, the city has shown nothing but love & respect, imma really miss pulling up to all the high school games here in Detroit & showing yall love., I cant thank yall enough, Slay said in an Instagram post. You probably know the history by now. And when youre one of the best at your craft, you know a thing or two about how to play your position. With 1,331 interception yards and 54 interceptions at the end of his extremely fruitful career, it is no wonder Sanders is considered the best cornerback ever. Aaron Charles Donald (born May 23, 1991) is an American football defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Ravens until his retirement in 2005. If youre in the Hall of Fame, you know you are already one of the best to ever play the game. He retired from the sport back in 2014 with 908 tackles, 203 defended passes, 52 interceptions, and 7 forced fumbles. Featuring 2018-2019 Colts and some of the greatest NFL cornerbacks of all time, the best Colts CBs include Vontae Davis, Eugene Daniel, Kelvin Hayden, Nick Harper, and Chris Goode. March Madness Everything You Need To Know, The Best Ball Handlers in NBA History Top 10 of All Time. They say I played the game with heart and determination. Blounts frame and length led to the rule change, but his hips and speed still allowed him to be voted first-team All-Pro once and second-team All-Pro twice, even after the fact. Historically underrated, this Oakland Raider took home the 1980 AP Defensive . #Steelers pic.twitter.com/Q3m1qGXJQA. I thank each and every one of you for believing in me and my dreams. Playing under Vince Lombardi and Tom Landry for his entire career, there may not have been a smarter corner ever to play the position. One of the most underrated positions in sports is the cornerback. Longtime member of the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos, Champ Bailey was considered one of the best at his position throughout his 15-year career. One of the greatest cornerbacks of all time, famed Richard Lane, better known as Dick Night Train Lane, was born on the April 16, 1928 in Austin, Texas. 1. The new rule didnt affect Blounts production, though. The first 80-year-old coordinator in @NFL history. He also made receivers tasks way more challenging due to his imposing six-foot-three frame. As a rookie, he led the NFL in interceptions and won Defensive Rookie of the Year. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. A seven-time Pro Bowler, Green was not only incredibly fast (a trait he attributed to eating Tootsie Rolls), but also durable. Jason Hanson holds the NFL record of 21 seasons with the same team as placekicker for the Lions. The Cardinals have finished inside the top five in scoring defense 16 times over the course of their 100 plus-year history, but that includes eight seasons from the 1920s, '30s and '40s, when the. Here is our ranking of the five biggest defensive linemen at the combine Pittsburgh could target in the 2023 NFL draft. The eleven-time Pro Bowler was also two times NFL leader in interceptions in 1999 and 2002. See, we left it on the field. The Ravens' defense was absolutely decimated by injury in 2021, and that left Humphrey to carry much of the . What three-time Super Bowl champion Ty Law did in the regular season is nothing to scoff at, but his brilliance in the postseason is what makes his career special. It takes a special kind of football player to suit up and play corner. He also set a record with the most Pro Bowl nominations at his position (11) and earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1993, after he racked up eight interceptions and 95 tackles. Adderley also was an elite return man once he caught an interception with 1,046 interception return yards which rank 9th all time. Our list of thetop10 cornerbacks of all timefeatures other highly successful NFL defensive players we discuss in the sections that follow, so make sure you stick around. It aint about one individual, it never is. He made 12 Pro Bowls in 15 seasons with Redskins and Broncos. For all you cornerbacks out there, heres a recipe for success that worked for Johnson as he shared in his Hall of Fame enshrinement speech how he worked on his game off the field: I watched reels and reels of film, Johnson said. He altered his style of play and still made three more Pro Bowls, on top of the two he earned in 75 and 76. + Indicates Hall of Famer, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Friday, March 3, 2:32PM. With all the negativity going around lets do something positive! Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. 20 of the Shortest NFL Players Who Proved Height, 25 of the NFLs Best Pass Rushers of All-Time, NFL Top Tens: Comparing the 10 Best NFL QBs With the. During his time in the NFL, the four-time Super Bowl champion was also praised for his ability to easily adjust coverage tactics and remain mentally strong no matter what was going on on the field. The eight time Pro Bowl selection contributed to the Broncos' two Super Bowl winning years in the 90s. Join our linker program. Two years after joining the Rams, Night Train Lane went to the Chicago Cardinals, where he played until 1959. I read computer readouts until they came out of my ears, so that I knew exactly what the offensive ends were going to do or try to do or that they could do. On this day in 1983 #Redskins legend Darrell Green makes his @NFL debut. In this list, the top 18 cornerbacks are strictly Hall of Fame players. Faithfully to my community, Aeneas Williams (@aeneas35) traveled a unique path to the @ProFootballHOF.He walked on to @SouthernU_BR's football team his junior year and became a starter within 5 games, then an @NFL pro. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Go back to the Super Bowl after awhile away. Time to get to work & show the city what we can do!!! ', 14 years later, thats why you cant give up on your dream, your promise, because 14 years later, this dream, this promise came. In that time, he won four Super Bowls, Posted by Tate Hansen | Feb 16, 2023 | NFL. Right? Table of Contents Who are the best NFL cornerbacks of all time? Jonah, he wandered. Thegreatest cornerbacks of all timeare also very fast and rather intimidating on the field. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. 1 receiver, including the likes of Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, and Calvin Johnson. Despite his teams not being at the top of the leagues ladder, amazing Aeneas Williams established himself as one of the greatest cornerbacks of all time. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Athletes need to be role models. Amazing Green also holds the NFL record for the most consecutive seasons finished with an interception (19). Eagles have a shot to land the top cornerback in the 2023 draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia. Read his story: https://t.co/9LbraFoAXm pic.twitter.com/2zSvjVMQnN, My wife and I flew out to San Diego, and Gill Bird taught me how to play the cornerback position, but I didnt set a goal to be the best cornerback to play the game, Williams said. We present them here for purely educational purposes. The forty-four-year-old Champ Bailey was born on the Jun 22, 1978 in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Alan Zemaitis, Cornerback There is a massive amount of talent currently at the position. And now, back to the NFL after awhile away. He didnt just excel at cornerback, either. The . 1. He had four interceptions, two pick-sixes, three forced fumbles and quarterbacks had a 54.0 passer rating when . Height - 6031 . Darrelle Revis 6. And I said, mama, because I was tired of seeing her go to work and come home all tired.