The skilled CB was selected to 12 Pro Bowls, a record at his position, and led the league in interceptions (10) in 2006. Because of Laws physicality against some of the leagues best receivers, the NFL more strictly enforced the five-yard illegal contact rule following the Patriots' Super Bowl-winning season in 2003. It seems that every generation of NFL players produces a lineup of elite cornerbacks, so the list of the best cornerbacks in NFL history is rather long. So that I could pick up keys that would allow me to release my decoy pattern a step before I might have. He also tallied six sacks in 1992, the second most by a Steelers player that season. Discussing the best cornerbacks of all time, we also have to mention Darrell Green. I wouldnt be standing here without that faith, which played a major role in my life. Answer (1 of 5): A2A. Players must meet the minimum requirements to show up on this leaderboard. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Not necessarily. This isnt about me. Bailey may also be one of the best tackling and run-support cornerbacks of all time with 832 solo career tackles, which ranks 28th all-time and fourth for cornerbacks. He retired from the sport back in 2014 with 908 tackles, 203 defended passes, 52 interceptions, and 7 forced fumbles. Charlie Waters made the NFL All Rookie team in 1970 as a safety, but then struggled for several years while playing cornerback. The greatest NFL cornerbacks of all time each held serve at the point of attack, never got beat deep, and were rarely even challenged. Learning from those whove been successful at their job can be motivating. He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, and Kansas City Chiefs. Today all this glory goes to God, Lott said. The NFL Combine's fastest cornerback 40-yard dash times of all time. You cant wait for somebody else to validate your purpose. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/Q3m1qGXJQA. One of thebest cornerbacks of all timewas on top of the leagues statistics in interceptions two times, in 1998 and 2005. In this list, the top 18 cornerbacks are strictly Hall of Fame players. Your email address will not be published. I can remember, it was a little high chair right by the kitchen. Josh Norman had one of the greatest seasons of all time for a cornerback in 2015. Life has been good to me and if I die tonight, I wouldnt die blue because I have experienced great things in life. His career in the NFL kicked off in 1987 when he was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers. After retiring from the sport, he focused on his career in politics and the Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation he founded back in 1988. Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. CBs making tackles on . It is led by the famous name of Deion Sanders, regarded as the best cornerback of all time. I wasnt ready before. I am thankful for my brother, my sister who are here to witness this. RSVP OR REQUEST A MEETUP AT BETTINGMEETUP.COM! My teammates aloneDick Night Train Lane,Lem Barney,Charlie Sanders,Yale Laryand probably the best teammate anybody had,Joe Schmidt, theyre already in the Hall of Fame. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. I was a part of that free agency. That I was able to allow my mama to go into a job and say Im not doing it anymore. His 1,207 interception return yards are the sixth most by any player in NFL history, and his 298 interception return yards in 1952 were just three yards short of an NFL record, at the time. Back in the day, he was also on top of the league with two touchdown-returned interceptions and 298 interception return yards. Beason has the fourth most tackles in Carolina Panthers history with 444, 10th most tackles for loss with 32, and 12th most interceptions with 9. . Its challenged me to become a better man, husband, father, teammate, and human being on earth. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? The Georgia native recorded 1.55 pass breakups per game in Urban Meyer's first year, the best rate among cornerbacks since at least 1972. 1. At the moment, Rod Woodson works for the Vegas Vipers as the general manager and head coach. Green is also managing his professional services company alongside working at George Mason University as an athletic director. Knup Sports works with a number of event companies in the sports betting & iGaming industry. We know that not all tackles are created equal. He was drafted into the NFL by the New England Patriots in 1995 after signing a five-year contract. NFL Tackles Career Leaders (since 1994) All-Time Tackles Leaders Players must meet the minimum requirements to show up on this leaderboard. The dedication to the craft was real! Standing 6-foot-3-inches tall and weighing 205 pounds, Blount still managed to be one of the most fluid corners of his era. Dick Night Train Lane is one of the 7 cornerbacks selected to the #NFL100 All-Time Team! 3x All-Pro, 7x Pro Bowl selection Career: 68 INT (4th in NFL history) Single-season NFL record 14 INT in 1952 (as a rookie) pic.twitter.com/HBXdkAGv24, We didnt fly first class, we didnt stay at the holiday Inns, we didnt even have Gatorade, Lane said. That season, he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Sportsfanbetting.com is an independent source of information for your favorite sports and online betting. And God told me not to leave Washington D.C., so I was there for 20 years. The Cowboys won 27 17, and Sanders spectacularly returned a punt for eleven yards. 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. pic.twitter.com/jdEVqA4mre, I am grateful and very proud to be part of this great Class of 2012, and I congratulate the five tremendous men who join me here, Butler said. Shortly after leaving the Steelers, Mel was hired by the leagues management in the position of the Director of Player Relations. He had one of the best games that I've ever seen an Eagles cornerback have Week 2 against the Vikings,. This is truly awesome. He finished his college playing career with 17 defended passes and 154 tackles. He played college football at Pittsburgh, where he .more. Theyre fast, sometimes flashy, and incredibly intimidating. He also spent one season playing for Tampa Bay, as well as one season playing for the New England Patriots. Michigan cornerback DJ Turner's official time of 4.26 is tied for fourth . Now more than ever, teams realize the importance of the positions, so lets look at the ten greatest to play the position. Or write about sports? Here are 25 of the Best Cornerbacks of All Time: Thanks to The Pro Football Hall of Fame 's compilation of Hall of Fame players by position and Pro Football Focus' Ben Linsey 's "Cornerback Rankings: The 32 best outside cornerbacks entering the 2021 NFL season", which were good resources in compiling this list. He was also a member of the universitys track and field team but decided to focus more on his football career. Following the competition of his rookie season, the Associated Press named him the NFL Defensive Rookie of the season. During that stretch, Bailey was a three-time first-team All-Pros, had 21 Interceptions and 56 pass breakups, and was second in defensive player of the year voting in 2006. Required fields are marked *. A 6-foot-2-inch, 190-pounder, Ricks, 21, projects as a boundary corner at the next level. Considered by many the best cornerback ever, Rod Woodson appears second on our list of the best cornerbacks in NFL history with rather impressive statistics. Seriously, thank you Mr. Davis. The first 80-year-old coordinator in @NFL history. You have to believe it yourself. Countless number of fans have told me I played the game with a high level of integrity., Cowboys' legend Mel Renfro among players in new lawsuit against NFL over painkillers http://t.co/73jJOaxwfq pic.twitter.com/xzM25nu7fZ, now I am trying to do something for the youth of this nation, Renfro said. Now, he told me he always worked on his feet because he tried to stay away from big wide receivers because he was such a small guy. Not to mention, he played nine seasons as an outfielder in Major League Baseball in the midst of his 16-year tenure in the NFL. So actually feel standing here today that I never reached that level, I never reached as good a football player as I could be, but thanks to God and inner talent I was able to present a picture to those individuals who were voting for the Hall of Fame and my longevity and the level of game that I played from my rookie season to my last.. 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. Mel Blount changed the NFL more than any cornerback has ever done by changing the rule book. I know that some people voiced opinion of that retired players shouldnt have an opinion about the present situation between players and management. Four-time Super Bowl champion Mel Blount helped make the Pittsburgh Steelers defense one of the most dominant in the league. 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. After spending five seasons with the Falcons, Sanders signed for the San Francisco 49ers. But that didnt matter much, because the menacing cornerback kept most opposing players from getting open in the first place. Jerry Rice played 303 games as a wide receiver, an NFL record. I stayed the course. In that time, he won four Super Bowls, Jonah, he wandered. Darrelle Revis retired from the sport in 2017 with 497 total tackles, 29 interceptions, 6 forced fumbles, 3 defensive touchdowns, and 139 deflected passes. To the current players, its your turn. He made over 1,100 tackles in his career, which led to him being inducted into the Hall of Fame. In 1958, Moore had 132 touches for 1,536 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11.6 yards per . Read on to learn about the six best NFL cornerbacks of all time. No one ever dreams of getting to this spot once he comes into the NFL, if anyone ever dreams of getting into the Hall of Fame, he is having a nightmare. The two-time Super Bowl champion made it to the First-Team All-Pro six times. Theres a lot of good corners in todays game and there were a lot of talented corners who retired and eventually made it to the Hall of Fame. That season, Lane also broke the leagues record for most interceptions in a season (14). God taught them. They went through many trials. He also recorded over 100 tackles in three consecutive seasons and is second all-time in total tackles as a Nittany Lion to Dan Connor. Fill out the form below to subscribe to the Sports 2.0 Daily Digest email newsletter. Im so honored Im going to be in there with them., "Without reservation the greatest defensive back who ever lived": @49ers CB Jimmy Johnson https://t.co/v5bjuZxxcw pic.twitter.com/5AXvsSR4nz, Toiling in a situation, trying to be the best that I could be, but in my mind knowing the only way you can be the best that you could be is by repetition, repetition, Johnson said according to the Pro Football Hall of Fames transcription of his Hall of Fame enshrinement speech. All too often, we men find it easier to criticize each other, instead of building each other up, Sherman shared, in part, in an Instagram post tagging other men. The beginning is God and I I would like to take time to acknowledge God in my spiritual beliefs because without my health and strength I wouldnt have been able to participate in football and it wouldnt be here. Samson, even Moses, tried to get away from what God wanted them to do. Tasked . Dick Lane is easily the greatest tackling, and hardest hitting, cornerback of all time. Bailey also possessed some of the greatest ball skills ever seen by a cornerback having 52 career interceptions and being asked to play wide receiver when his team needed him during his 15-year career. Being 5-foot-9 and 184 pounds with sub-30" arms and a 4.51 40-yard dash makes it tough to justify him in the top-32 -- there simply aren't many cornerbacks who beat those odds. Charles Woodson spent eighteen seasons playing in the NFL for two teams, the Oakland Raiders and the Green Bay Packers. Couple his speed and longevity with a willingness to engage ball-carriers and make tackles, and Green was one of the most versatile corners of all time. 2) Rod Woodson. I disagree because these players are fighting for some of the very things I wanted in my career. Well, guys like Ty Law and Darrelle Revis are on the outside looking in. Then, he signed for the Washington Redskins in 2000, and he remained on the theme only one season. Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. The one-time Super Bowl champion spent the vast majority of his professional career playing for the New York Jets. The five-time Pro Bowler recorded an interception for a touchdown off a pass by Saint Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner in the New England Patriots upset, 20-17 Super Bowl win over The Greatest Show on Turf in 2002 and picked off Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning three times in the 2003 AFC Championship Game. And next I would like to thank my brother and father because without them I would not be here mom I appreciate you taking care of me, leading me on the right road with your guidance, Willie Brown is one of the 7 cornerbacks selected to the #NFL100 All-Time Team! 5x All-Pro, 9x Pro Bowl selection Super Bowl XI Champion (75-yard pick-6 in Super Bowl) Career: 54 INT, 2 INT return TD pic.twitter.com/TGltdw30H7, You know before he makes a decision, so the sports writers can get all this straight, before he makes any decision about personnel, he (Al Davis) checks with Mrs. Davis, Brown said. He finished his career with 13 defensive touchdowns, 155 deflected passes, 64 interceptions, 33 forced fumbles, and 1,105 total tackles. The 11-time Pro Bowler could do it all, from picking off passes to tackling, creating fumbles, and . It was as if God was saying, You will make it next year, Mel. You see, it all kind of fits. Dave Brown 3. Begin with the end in mind, Williams said during his Hall of Fame enshrinement speech per The Pro Football Hall of Fames transcription of it. Darrell Greens speed was unfair. The seven-time Pro Bowler still holds the NFL record for the most interceptions in a single season. He signed a five-year contract with the team. 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. + Indicates Hall of Famer, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Friday, March 3, 2:32PM. 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. Get the most out of your abilities thats what Frank Kush taught us in college and thats what I think young people who take anything seriously should try to do. Even in today's NFL, Atwater, standing 6'3 and weighing 218 lbs is the perfect size for a hard hitting safety. He also has seven career postseason interceptions which rank 6th all-time, three of which he returned for touchdowns which ranks second only behind Asante Samuel. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. I said Im going to be rich one day. You probably know the history by now. Revis spent the majority of his career in New York (2007-12, 2015-16), where he reached the AFC Championship Game in 2009 and 2010. Green is a two-time Super Bowl Champion, won the NFL Man of the Year in 1996 and won the Bart Starr Award in 1997. The fifty-four-year-old (as of 2023) Aeneas Williams was born on Jan 29, 1968, in New Orleans. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Champ Bailey was drafted into the NFL in 1999, where he was selected by the Washington Redskins. . Man its truly a blessing. Green entered the NFL Draft in 1983, where he was selected by the Washington Redskins. There have been countless cornerbacks throughout the history of the National Football League that have played the game at such a high level that the results of a big game, the outcome of a season, or even a rule have been changed as a result of their actions. That mark makes him the fastest defensive tackle in combine history since NFL Network . Build your own custom leaderboards with Stathead Football. In the kitchen there was a high chair right by the stove that she was cooking. 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. The gathering of football legends. Not only did I stay the course on the field, I stayed the course faithfully to this woman for almost 24 years. Posluszny went on to be drafted in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills and had a solid NFL career with the Bills and Jaguars. This leads us to Deion Sanders, the best cornerback of all time based on his impressive career statistics and other accomplishments. It is not fair or pardonable for Blacks to be treated like stepchildren in Pro Football. Here is our ranking of the five biggest defensive linemen at the combine Pittsburgh could target in the 2023 NFL draft. . This means that while the NCAA recognizes Barry Sanders ' single-season rushing yards record of 2,628 as the national record, Oklahoma State counts his stats from the 1988 Holiday Bowl as well and recognizes the record as 2,850 yards. We not only bring you whats happening in the world of sports in terms of trades and breaking news, but we also bring you the news that goes on behind the scenes, like big life moments, and so much more. But for all intents and purposes, this list will have Hall of Fame players in the top 18 to try and make it as less subjective as we can. He was coached by Lloyd Carr during his time at the University of Michigan. I hope my personal story challenges other homes to have conversations with our younger generation. Butler played 9 seasons with the @steelers. The three-time Super Bowl champion started his college career playing for the University of Michigan. 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 SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. In 2022, Slay started off hot. As good as they come as a tackler, Wagner holds first and second place for the PFF record for the most tackles made without a miss, the top mark ringing in at an astonishing 140 tackles. + Indicates Hall of Famer View Current Leaderboard See leaders through past seasons Leaders Share & Export Modify, Export & Share Table Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Time to get to work & show the city what we can do!!! In 2009, the two-time NFL interceptions leader (1998, 2005) retired with 53 interceptions, 169 pass deflections, seven defensive touchdowns, and five sacks. I feel now that I am ready. One of the most feared tacklers of the 1990s, Steve Atwater's decade in Denver saw some of the most devastating hits in league history. One year later, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys, with whom he triumphed in Super Bowl XXX. And now here I am., Happy Birthday to the legendary Dick LeBeau! #803 of 880. 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. In 1997, Woodson received the Heisman Trophy. Then tag as many brothers to do the same. Cornerback: Vontae Davis, Indianapolis Colts (2014) 93.3. He also made receivers tasks way more challenging due to his imposing six-foot-three frame. As a rookie, the vicious tackler set the single-season record for interceptions, with 14 across 12 games a mark that will likely never be surpassed, even with today's 17-game schedule. The exact cause of death was never released. Aaron Charles Donald (born May 23, 1991) is an American football defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). With so many sports on hiatus, now is the time to check out horse racing at BetAmerica. In 2011, he had six interceptions for 173 yards and averaged 28.8 yards per return on those interceptions. He is a top-15 tackler all time at Wisconsin and totaled 338 stops in his four years. But, which players are the best cornerbacks of all time in program history? It took them a long time to be elevated to do the Lords work. You have to be worked on, cornered in and cornered out to become as good as you can be. So take a minute and read one of our articles, we promise you won't regret it. Thank God for getting me through the season healthy mentally and physically. An eight-time Pro Bowler, he intercepted six passes as a rookie and led the league in interceptions (9) the following season. We should note that Aeneas Williams led the league in interceptions during his second season in the NFL. 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. Love you guys so much.. His career in the NFL kicked off during the NFL 1998 draft, where he was selected by the Oakland Raiders. He was arguably the Eagles' best defensive player in 2021. He finished his career in Atlanta with 24 intercepted yards and three returned touchdowns. 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. Darrelle Revis is considered by many the best CB of all time, but he is third-placed on our list of the best cornerbacks of all time. For his career, he recorded 908 tackles, 52 interceptions (26th all time), and 203 passes defended, the most by any player in NFL history. Ramsey, 28, is due $17 million in 2023 on . Sanders also played for the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, and Baltimore Ravens before retiring from the sport in 2005. Last but not least, Connor Rogers of NBC Sports reiterates the "plug-and-play" tag, with Pro Football Focus giving him a 92.3 overall grade in his final collegiate season, predicting that . It takes a special kind of football player to suit up and play corner. To my New eagles fans, ya boii is READY!!! You should not be surprised, considering that Ty Law had many special moments during his extremely fruitful career. He spent fifteen seasons playing in the NFL. Charles Woodson 3. Your email address will not be published. Anyone under the age of 50 is shaking their head at this selection, but if you want to talk football, you need to do your research first. During his rookie season, he was a starter in eleven of twelve games. They say I played the game with heart and determination. Now, if she says its okay, then its okay. You could make a debate that they actually should be there. In 2000, he received the Bart Starr Award and the Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor. but the hands that life deals us we must play them. He made the change to safety in 1999 and primarily played that position while with the Ravens and Oakland Raiders, where he reached one more Super Bowl (a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003) and closed out his career. His stats may not be memorable, but opposing quarterbacks will never forget the nightmares he caused them on the field. 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. For his career, he recorded 908 tackles, 52 interceptions (26th all time), and 203 passes defended, the most by any player in NFL history. You cant wait for somebody else to tell you that youre great. He played for the Ravens until his retirement in 2005. When officials took a closer look, he actually clocked in with a 4.67. NFL films ranked Darrell Green as the fastest player to ever play in the NFL. He had four interceptions, two pick-sixes, three forced fumbles and quarterbacks had a 54.0 passer rating when . When dreams of being able to utilize his God given skills and talents and attributes to make them manifest to make them fruits. In the 1987 playoffs in the divisional round against the Chicago Bears, Green broke free for a game-changing punt return touchdown. Jason Hanson holds the NFL record of 21 seasons with the same team as placekicker for the Lions. We need to present an image to people who want to do the right thing. Mel Blount Mel Blount changed the NFL more than any cornerback has ever done by changing the rule book. Age: 26 (27 on 7/27/23) Playing time: 16 games (15 starts), 969 defensive snaps (92.2% of team total), 50 special teams snaps (12.2% of team total) Key statistics: 90 tackles, 6 tackles for loss . They are well known for hosting the Betting on Sports series of events across the world. Do you have a sports website? For his career, Woodson recorded 71 interceptions (third all time) for 1,483 yards (second all time). Eagles have a shot to land the top cornerback in the 2023 draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia. Champ has the most career Pro Bowl selections of any cornerback with 12. See, we left it on the field. They thought they were ready sooner, but they werent. He also picked off three passes in Super Bowl competition, including two thrown by Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach. 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. If all a CB did was play man-to-man coverage and they never tackled someone else's man, you might be onto something. Ty Law was included in the Pro Football Hall of Fame back in 2019. I am thankful for my wife, my children, my grandchildren that are here to see this also. NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah sized up some Patriots-type players in this year's draft, many who could be considered at 14th overall. From the bottom of my heart from Tracy and I on helping us know what its like to be married in the NFL and raise your children loving and serving your children. So, Im starting here today. He holds the single season NFL record with 14 interceptions - in only 12 gamespic.twitter.com/ZHnF5n612W. This is about us. In the last game played for the team, he collected over 150 combined receiving and rushing yards, alongside ten tackles.