Top 10 most deadliest NFL players of all time

Deadliest NFL players: In the NFL, players with a reputation for inspiring fear can easily influence their opponents’ minds and cause them to lose focus, making intimidation a valuable strategy. The most dangerous players in the league all made their careers playing defence, even though the strategy is applicable to both sides of the ball.

It can be challenging to walk the thin line between being dirty and intimidating, but many of the most feared players in the league came of age at a time when either side of the line was considered acceptable. Even though their playing style was perfect for their generation, many of their rivals were among the best in their field, which only made them more alluring. This does not mean that they could not succeed in the modern game.

Deadliest NFL players ranked:

10. James Harrison:

• Had 84.5 Sacks
• Harrison and the Pittsburgh Steelers won two Super Bowls.

Word on the street is Every time James Harrison smiles, winter extends to Pittsburgh by six weeks. His piercing eyes were as deadly as his pass-rush moves; his face appeared to be frozen in a perpetual state of irritation.

Although the five-time Pro Bowler was a late bloomer—he went undrafted and didn’t start until he was 29 years old—once he got his footing, he developed into one of the best quarterback hunters in the league. He was also a true throwback player because of his intensity and penchant for devastating hits, which made him a divisive player throughout his career. But really, are his teeth even there?

2. Jack Tatum

• Was Called The Assassin
• Tatum was a player for the Oakland Raiders, who won the Super Bowl.

Jack Tatum’s brutal style of play earned him the moniker “The Assassin” because he was such a force on the back end of the Raiders. Despite his diminutive height of 5’10”, Tatum played with the force of a 7’11”, so receivers had to keep their heads turned to watch him run over the middle of the field.

In his autobiography, They Call Me Assassin, the three-time Pro Bowler expressed his enjoyment of his notoriety, stating that he likes to think his biggest hits “border on felonious assault.” Notably, he was involved in the Immaculate Reception because he was the one who moved the ball away from John Fuqua, the intended receiver, and into Franco Harris’s hands.

3. Mike Singletary:

• Was The Chicago Bears “Heart Of The Defense”
• With the Bears, Singletary Won A Super Bowl

The renowned middle linebacker Mike Singletary personified the essence of the Bears’ renowned Monsters of the Midway defence during the 1980s. Singletary is one of the most intimidating players in the league, but he often goes unnoticed because he plays on one of the most feared defences in NFL history.

Samurai Mike was the ideal captain for the 46 defence because of his attacking play style, which set an example for his teammates to follow by flinging his body around carelessly. Throughout his career, Singletary perfected the art of intimidation because opposing quarterbacks could not handle the size of his bulging eyes.

4. Mean Joe Greene:

•  Was Part Of The Steel Curtain

• Joe Greene Won Four Super Bowls With Pittsburgh

Stats	Sacks	Interceptions	Fumbles	Fumble Recoveries	TDs
Regular Season	77.5	1	1	16	0
Playoffs	7	1	0	2	0
Birthdate	September 24, 1946
Career Accomplishments	4× Super Bowl champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV), 2× NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1972, 1974), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1969), NFL Man of the Year (1979), 5× First-team All-Pro (1972–1974, 1977, 1979), 10× Pro Bowl (1969–1976, 1978, 1979), NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team, Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor, Pittsburgh Steelers No. 75 retired, Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame, Consensus All-American (1968)

Is it possible to be one of the most intimidating players in league history and not earn the nickname “Mean” on the football field? That response would be a resounding no if the late defensive tackle Joe Greene of the Pittsburgh Steelers is any guide. The ten-time Pro Bowler was the cornerstone of Pittsburgh’s renowned “Steel Curtain” defensive line in the 1970s, making offensive linemen shudder throughout the league.

Players flocked to Greene’s leadership style, which helped the Steelers win four Super Bowls in a decade and served as the emotional leader for their amazing defence. It’s interesting to note that, in spite of his formidable reputation on the football field, Greene was regarded as a good man off it (in part because of a well-known Coca-Cola commercial).

5. Jack Lambert:

• Was The Greatest Linebacker Of His Era
• Lambert and the Pittsburgh Steelers won four Super Bowls.

Stats	Sacks	Interceptions	Fumbles	Fumble Recoveries	TDs
Regular Season	23.5	28	1	17	0
Playoffs	0.5	1	0	3	0
Birthdate	July 8, 1952
Career Accomplishments	4× Super Bowl champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1976), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1974), 6× First-team All-Pro (1976, 1979–1983), 9× Pro Bowl (1975–1983), NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team, Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor, Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame

Because of his exceptional sideline-to-sideline speed, which made him the best inside linebacker of his era, Lambert also transformed the centre field position in Pittsburgh’s Tampa 2 scheme. Nine-time Pro Bowler with six interceptions twice in his career, the quarterback’s fiery (and toothless) stare intimidated opposing quarterbacks just as much as his ability to make plays in the passing game.

Pittsburgh’s outstanding defence may have garnered the most attention from the Steel Curtain, but their best player may have earned a living a little bit away from the line of scrimmage. One of the most intimidating players in NFL history, Jack Lambert was a star middle linebacker who terrified opposing offences despite weighing a mere 220 pounds, even when he was drenched.

6. Deacon Jones:

• Was The “Secretary Of Defense”

• in 1980, the Pro Football Hall of Fame was established.

Stats	Sacks	Interceptions	Fumbles	Fumble Recoveries	TDs
Regular Season	173.5	2	0	15	0
Playoffs	0	0	0	0	0
Birthdate	December 9, 1938 – June 3, 2013 (aged 74)
Career Accomplishments	2× NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1967, 1968), 5× First-team All-Pro (1965–1969), 8× Pro Bowl (1964–1970, 1972), 5× NFL sacks leader (1964, 1965, 1967–1969), NFL 1960s All-Decade Team, NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, St. Louis Football Ring of Fame, Los Angeles Rams No. 75 retired

The term “sacks” may not have been used in football if it weren’t for Deacon Jones, who first used it in the 1960s. In his 14-year career, the defensive end finished with 173.5 (unofficially) sacks, leading the league in sacks five times. On the field, he also created his fair share of them. Furthermore, since the league did not start tracking official sack statistics until 1982, some people think his true numbers were significantly higher.

In addition to being one of the greatest quarterback hunters of all time, Jones is among the most fearsome athletes to play on a football field. The eight-time Pro Bowler’s intensity was unmatched by anyone, and his trademark head slap move gave opposing offensive linemen a serious case of the willies before games.

7. Ray Lewis:

• Was MVP of the Super Bowl
• The NFL record for most tackles in a season is held by Lewis.

Stats	Tackles	Sacks	Interceptions	Forced Fumbles	Fumble Recoveries	TDs
Regular Season	2059	41.5	31	19	20	3
Playoffs	218	2	2	6	1	1
Birthdate	May 15, 1975
Career Accomplishments	2× Super Bowl champion (XXXV, XLVII), Super Bowl MVP (XXXV), 2× NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2000, 2003), 7× First-team All-Pro (1999–2001, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009), 13× Pro Bowl (1997–2001, 2003, 2004, 2006–2011), 3× NFL tackles leader (1997, 1999, 2001), NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor, First-team All-American (1995), Most career combined tackles (2,059), Most career solo tackles (1,568), Most solo tackles in a season (156)

As one of the few players to have appeared in three different Pro Bowls, Ray Lewis’s level of consistent dominance at the linebacker position is unmatched in the league. In a similar vein, he played with reckless abandon as if every snap could be his last. His intensity was equally unmatched.

Throughout the early 2000s, the 13-time Pro Bowler contributed to the Ravens’ defence becoming one of the most formidable units in league history. Lewis delivered more bone-rattling hits than anyone else, so even though he might have been undersized for the position, you would never know it from his playing style. When crossing the middle, pass-catchers had to be mindful of his presence, and he would often punish those who did not.

8. Dick Lane:

• The NFL record for most interceptions made as a rookie was set by Dick “Night Train” Lane.
• Lane’s Approach Was Known as “The Night Train Necktie”

The most frequent reason a cornerback becomes feared by opposing offences is because they are astute ballhawks. Dick “Night Train” Lane, though, was no typical cover man; he brought a certain ferocity to the role that hasn’t been matched (or even imitated). The NFL changed a few rules in the early 1960s as a result of his propensity to clothesline opponents (a move that came to be known as a “Night Train Necktie”) and rip them to the ground by their facemask. He also left anyone lining up against him terrified.

The defensive back lived rent-free in the minds of opposing passers as one of the league’s best ballhawks, so it wasn’t just ballcarriers who were intimidated by him. Currently ranked second on the all-time interception list, he set a single-season record in 1952 during his rookie season with 14 interceptions (in just 12 games!).

9. Lawrence Taylor:

• Joined the New York Giants to win two Super Bowls.
• Taylor competed in WrestleMania XI’s main event.

Being the only player to win the Defensive Player of the Year Award in his rookie season, Lawrence Taylor made quick work of developing into one of the league’s best pass-rushers. The ten-time Pro Bowler changed the way offences schemed against elite edge threats and redefined the position of outside linebacker, but that was just the beginning. One could easily argue that Taylor is the NFL’s greatest defensive player ever.

He could also be argued to be the most frightening player in the league due to his lightning-fast get-off, which gave offensive linemen nightmares, and his ability to read the fear in the eyes of those tasked with blocking him. Taylor’s psychological influence on opposing passers was comparable because he could tell if a play would involve a handoff by observing how uneasy they were around him prior to the snap. He even battled Bam Bam Bigelow at WrestleMania to display his toughness.

10. Dick Butkus:

• Participated in Chicago Bears play His Whole Professional Life
• He is honoured with the Butkus Award for Best College Linebacker.

The first Monster of the Midway was Dick Butkus, and no one knew how to intimidate like the illustrious middle linebacker from Chicago. Between plays, he was said to growl like a dog and have a penchant for pissing opponents off in bunches. He was one of the most feared tacklers in league history, and he made it his goal to punish ball carriers on every snap as if his canine-like tendencies weren’t scary enough.

Butkus used slights as a motivator, so opposing players had to be careful talking about him and Chicago in interviews. After calling the linebacker overrated after their previous game, Lions running back Altie Taylor had to learn this lesson the hard way during their second meeting in 1969, forcing him into the stands to avoid confrontation. Butkus is one of the greatest (and fiercest) linebackers in NFL history and one of only three players to be selected to multiple All-Decade teams.

So, this was all about the deadliest NFL players of all time. Also read, Top 10 legendary important NFL Players in history!