He altered his style of play and still made three more Pro Bowls, on top of the two he earned in 75 and 76. The 11-time Pro Bowler could do it all, from picking off passes to tackling, creating fumbles, and rushing the passer. Mels superior career finished with 57 interceptions, 736 interception yards, and 2 touchdowns. Time to get to work & show the city what we can do!!! 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. His stats may not be memorable, but opposing quarterbacks will never forget the nightmares he caused them on the field. 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. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports. 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. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Revis started his career playing college football at the University of Pittsburgh. Ronnie Lott. 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. But as I stand here in the huddle of greatness, I feel so much of Your spirit. 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. After retiring from the sport in 1983, he was inducted into the Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame. Sports Betting Community is a leader in iGaming industry news, media and events. Thank God for getting me through the season healthy mentally and physically. Longevity and availability is the reason Green cracks the top 10. One of the most versatile cornerbacks of his era, Darrell Green helped Washington's franchise collect two Super Bowl titles in a four-year span. 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. After retiring from the sport, he focused on his career in politics and the Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation he founded back in 1988. All rights reserved. We are far from the run-of-the-mill 24/7 sports news websites. We should note that Aeneas Williams led the league in interceptions during his second season in the NFL. Do you have a sports website? To live honorable lives with ethics, integrity, with grace., In Genesis 3:9, the Lord called to the man, Where are you? The man was always running, ducking and hiding. 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. The eight-time Pro Bowler was also the NFL kickoff return leader in 1992. You have to believe it yourself. It is led by the famous name of Deion Sanders, regarded as the best cornerback of all time. Pictured from left to right: Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones (59), Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez (0) and USC wide receiver Jordan Addison (3). 2021 stats: 12 games (12 starts), 1 INT, 13 PBUs, 1 FF, 58 combined tackles (44 solo). In the 1987 playoffs in the divisional round against the Chicago Bears, Green broke free for a game-changing punt return touchdown. He also tallied six sacks in 1992, the second most by a Steelers player that season. Between this season and the 2023 season, Jalen Pitre made the most tackles by a defensive back, with 99 tackles. Thebest CB of all timeby statistics started his career playing for Florida States University back in the 80s. Jason Hanson holds the NFL record of 21 seasons with the same team as placekicker for the Lions. In 2009, Bailey didnt allow a touchdown pass in 80 targets and was credited with holding Larry Fitzgerald to just three catches for 19 yards in a game against the Cardinals in the 2010 season. Brown is a five-time first-team All-Pro, a member of the NFLs 1970s All-Decade Team, and a Super Bowl champion. + Indicates Hall of Famer, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Friday, March 3, 2:32PM. Tom Brady's former Michigan teammate was a G.O.A.T. Seriously, thank you Mr. Davis. Your email address will not be published. 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. Today (2023), he is the head coach for the Colorado Buffaloes team. It is not fair or pardonable for Blacks to be treated like stepchildren in Pro Football. He retired from the sport back in 2014 with 908 tackles, 203 defended passes, 52 interceptions, and 7 forced fumbles. He played one season in Tampa Bay in 2013, then signed a one-year contract with the Patriots in 2014 and won a Super Bowl that season. I have to go back to the beginning, Adderley said. Please see our Contributors and Sources page for data source details. Now more than ever, teams realize the importance of the positions, so lets look at the ten greatest to play the position. Tajuan Edward was born on the 10th of February in 1974 in Pennsylvania. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. We must play the game of life in order to win and win at all costs. Updated through the 2022 regular season. Adderley was part of some of the greatest defenses ever during his time in Green Bay under Vince Lombardi. and I learned to read linemen, running backsand anything else that moved upon the field. After leaving the NFL for good, he focused on charity work. From most interesting stories, games, and players to betting guides and site reviews. 1 15) Dick LeBeau. Sanders began his career at the Atlanta Falcons (1989-1993), then jumped to the 49ers for one season, where he helped the team win Super Bowl XXIX. Michigan cornerback DJ Turner's official time of 4.26 is tied for fourth . Notify me of follow-up comments by email. (Sportswire). An eight-time Pro Bowler, he intercepted six passes as a rookie and led the league in interceptions (9) the following season. After a stellar career in New York that including helping the Jets to advance to consecutive. Adderley also played in four of the first six Super Bowls, returning an interception for a 60-yard touchdown in Super Bowl II. A post shared by Richard Sherman (@rsherman25). After finishing high school, he enrolled at Texas A&I University, where he ran track and played football. I set a goal to be one of the best husbands and best men that I could be. By doing that, I was able to get to distance part of the field that normally I would not have.. 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. #803 of 880. With Sanders on board, the team won a conference championship. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Theyre fast, sometimes flashy, and incredibly intimidating. Always gamble responsibly and in moderation. His career in the NFL kicked off during the NFL 1998 draft, where he was selected by the Oakland Raiders. 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. Cromartie is a former cornerback with the Jets with a career of 13 interceptions and two forced fumbles. Dave Brown 3. Gave them the lessons to wait, to be patient, to learn, and their time would come. Darrelle Revis 6. Here is our ranking of the five biggest defensive linemen at the combine Pittsburgh could target in the 2023 NFL draft. Once the rule was implemented, Blount still managed to have 22 interceptions in his career 57. 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. 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. 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. The exact cause of death was never released. Its challenged me to become a better man, husband, father, teammate, and human being on earth. That was during free agency time. CBs making tackles on . Love I believe is our most motivating factor we could have in life. But the Lord was calling, Where are you? God had timing for me. Love our most powerful, powerful weapon. I pray I let His light shine through me on the field. 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. They are our future!, A post shared by Ja $ (@jairealexander). Green entered the NFL Draft in 1983, where he was selected by the Washington Redskins. Or write about sports? 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. After leaving the NFL, Ty Law established entertainment facilities operating under the name of Launch Trampoline Park. I am thankful for my brother, my sister who are here to witness this. Go back to the Super Bowl after awhile away. You cant wait for society to tell you youre beautiful or that youre a good person. Julius Brents (CB, Kansas State) If the Giants are looking for big, long cornerbacks, then they have to look at Julius Brents from Kansas State. I can be faithful. A 6-foot-2-inch, 190-pounder, Ricks, 21, projects as a boundary corner at the next level. Let me know what your thoughts are in the comments below. 1. ! Upload 1 picture of yourselfONLY you. 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. That mark makes him the fastest defensive tackle in combine history since NFL Network . The . Shortly after leaving the Steelers, Mel was hired by the leagues management in the position of the Director of Player Relations. Following the competition of his rookie season, the Associated Press named him the NFL Defensive Rookie of the season. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. She was working two jobs just to see if ends could see one another because they never met. After his junior year, Ty Law left the college team to enter the NFL Draft in 1995, primarily due to financial issues. The spirited speedster talked the talk and backed it up in a way few people can, all while setting the gold standard at cornerback. And when youre one of the best at your craft, you know a thing or two about how to play your position. Were in the stadium and Ive talked for over 20 minutes, but were going to commercial. Eagles have a shot to land the top cornerback in the 2023 draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia. He was selected to 4 Pro Bowls and the @NFL 1950s All-Decade Team. 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. 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. Athletes need to be role models. In the last game played for the team, he collected over 150 combined receiving and rushing yards, alongside ten tackles. 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. 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. 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. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. I enjoyed it, I whistled while I worked and every opportunity I had I tried to promote victories and wins, Barney said. Deion Sanders was born on the August 9, 1967 in Fort Myers, Florida. He spent fifteen seasons playing in the NFL. In 2009, the most yards he permitted while guarding a receiver one-on-one was 58, and he held Moss, Owens, Chad Johnson, and Reggie Wayne to no more than five catches or 40 yards that year. The dedication to the craft was real! 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. Lem Barney. His 25.1 yards per interception return is the best in NFL history, and hes fifth in interceptions returned for a touchdown (9). The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019. Read on to learn about the six best NFL cornerbacks of all time. March Madness Everything You Need To Know, The Best Ball Handlers in NBA History Top 10 of All Time. Here are 25 of the Best Cornerbacks of All Time: Now, on to cornerbacks in the Hall of Fame. 8. 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. . He retired from the sport with 1,049 tackles, 71 interceptions, 17 touchdowns, and 20 forced fumbles. 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. 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. Lets build ourselves up, instead of tearing ourselves down. Not just cornerback, but any player regardless of position. They view me first as a black man. Now, if she says its okay, then its okay. He was coached by Lloyd Carr during his time at the University of Michigan. The run on talented cornerbacks continues as the Lions take Cam Smith with the 18th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. And she was slaving over pots and pans on that precise day. During his time playing for the Steelers, Woodson scored six defensive touchdowns and twenty forced fumbles. #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. In the League that we have established, management must realize that times have changed and must adopt a new philosophy and a different approach with the players and the game. 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. God bless., On this day in #SteelersHistory, @ProFootballHOF CB Mel Blount was selected in the 3rd round of the 1970 NFL Draft. I stayed the course. Adderley was a five-time first-team All-Pro, five-time NFL Champion, and a three-time Super Bowl champion. 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. You have to believe in yourself. 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. pic.twitter.com/TqgZJqUarq. He played the position of cornerback for the New England Patriots between 1005 and 2004. 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. The former college linebacker out of Grambling State used his 6-foot-1-inch frame and elite speed to perfect this technique. Williams also talked about begin(ning) with the end in mind. Rod Woodson holds the NFL record for the most career interceptions returned for TDs (12). Then, he signed for the Washington Redskins in 2000, and he remained on the theme only one season. Cornerback: Asante Samuel, New England Patriots (2006) 93.2 Rod Woodson made a compelling case as the most complete cornerback of all time, if not the greatest. Ty Law was included in the Pro Football Hall of Fame back in 2019. And that is what has happened to me after I retired from football. Deion Sanders is the only athleteever to scorean NFL touchdown and hitan MLB home runin the same week30 years ago today: 3-for-5 with HR, pair of doublesFivedays later, returns punt68 yards for a TDin his NFL debutLegend pic.twitter.com/S6l8RhU2H7, Thank you, Lord, I thank you, Sanders said. Law retired back in 2009 with 838 tackles, 169 pass deflections, 53 interceptions, and 7 touchdowns. The greatest NFL cornerbacks of all time each held serve at the point of attack, never got beat deep, and were rarely even challenged. Ronnie Lott had an incredible career that spanned 14 years. Tom Brady vs. Drew Brees Record Who Is All-Time Best? They are paying attention. 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. Top 2023 draft prospects Joey Porter Jr., Emmanuel Forbes and Kelee Ringo vary in size, speed and strength, but they all say they possess the most vital trait for NFL cornerback success . Thats not to say the guys 19 through 25 dont belong in the top 10 or even top 5. Mel Blount was born on the April 10, 1948 in Vidalia, Georgia. He also spent one season playing for Tampa Bay, as well as one season playing for the New England Patriots. Following his amazing success with the San Francisco 49ers, Sanders joined the Dallas Cowboys, and he remained on the team for four years until 1999. That season, Lane also broke the leagues record for most interceptions in a season (14). 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 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. Blount made a name for himself playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers for thirteen years, from 1970 to 1983, when he retired from the sport. My Dad just mentioned how God plays important part in our lives. Lester Hayes, Cornerback. That season, he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He spent four seasons playing for the Atlanta Falcons and also competed for the San Francisco 49ers one season. In addition, most NFL fans would agree that having a superior cornerback is one of the most important parts of every successful teams play and defense. Four-time Super Bowl champion Mel Blount helped make the Pittsburgh Steelers defense one of the most dominant in the league. Go back to religion after awhile away. I want everybody over here to shout begin with the end in mind. RELATED: 15 of the Best Undrafted NFL Players If They Were All on One Team. This is truly awesome. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams 2) Rod Woodson. Deion Sanders 2. If it wasnt for God, I wouldnt be here today, so, Lord, I thank youI made a promise when I was seven years old to this young woman at the age of 27. My son is only 5 years old, and aware of whats going on in our world today, Gillmore said in an Instagram post. He finished that season with 64 tackles. Do you have a blog? Night Train Lane spent fourteen seasons in the NFL playing for the Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Cardinals, and Detroit Lions. Mel Blount Mel Blount changed the NFL more than any cornerback has ever done by changing the rule book. Its amazingto all the football fans out here, I hope you love this game as much as I do. In the modern NFL league, cornerbacks remain the most critical defensive players on the field, and nobody can deny this fact. 15 of the Best Undrafted NFL Players If They Were All on One Team. Not necessarily. It wasnt time, but it is now. For his career, he recorded 908 tackles, 52 interceptions (26th all time), and 203 passes defended, the most by any player in NFL history. He played in the NFL for seventeen seasons, starting his career in 1987 with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Willie Brown is credited with inventing the bump-and-run coverage that also most every NFL corner uses today. His professional NFL career kicked off during the NFL 1991 Draft when he joined the Arizona Cardinals, where he would stay for ten years. 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. 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 made over 1,100 tackles in his career, which led to him being inducted into the Hall of Fame. We present them here for purely educational purposes. The longtime cornerback for the Oakland Raiders earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1998, after he posted five interceptions for 118 return yards, one defensive touchdown, two forced fumbles, and 64 tackles. Bruce Matthews (left) played a record 296 games as an offensive lineman. In 1958, Moore had 132 touches for 1,536 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11.6 yards per . He finished his career in Atlanta with 24 intercepted yards and three returned touchdowns. The 40-yard dash times are in, and the best of this year so far is also one of the top marks in recent combine history. I hope my personal story challenges other homes to have conversations with our younger generation. 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. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Lem Barney is a great example of a player who went to a smaller college but hit the ground running. Ranking top 10 cornerbacks, safeties in NFL: Marcus Peters lands redemption, Tyrann Mathieu steals the throne . Dick Night Train Lane passed away on the Jan 29, 2002 at the age of seventy-three. He contributed 167 total tackles, 28 pass deflections, 13.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions, two . Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Who looks to be a top-10 cornerback in the NFL right now? Throughout the 1990s, Rod Woodson made a compelling case as the most complete cornerback of all time, if not the greatest. From one true shutdown corner to a pair of all-purpose defensive backs, here are the top 10 cornerbacks in NFL history. NFL Career Leaders - Sacks. The 11-time Pro Bowler could do it all, from picking off passes to tackling, creating fumbles, and . Tasked . Knup Sports is a proud media partner of SBC. but the hands that life deals us we must play them. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. The twelve-time Pro Bowler was on top of the leagues ranks back in 2006 with ten interceptions. My son has blessed me., Charles Woodson: @ProFootballHOF Class of 2021. So, in this list, youll hear from some of the top 18s Hall of Fame enshrinement speeches, along with the rest of todays corners from various points throughout their career, so you, too can strive for a Hall of Fame-type career or endeavor or familywhatever good you want to bring to the world. He chased down HOF RBs throughout his legendary career with ease. NFL Tackles Career Leaders (since 1994) All-Time Tackles Leaders Players must meet the minimum requirements to show up on this leaderboard. Theres not much Deion Sanders couldnt doexcept tackle well. This is about we., I encourage each and every one of you to start with a small but great practice of believing in yourself. However, the ruling was overturned via the infamous "Tuck Rule.". Gods son .. ALL GLORY TO GOD TODAY & EVERYDAY, Ramsey said in an Instagram post. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. 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 . Even in today's NFL, Atwater, standing 6'3 and weighing 218 lbs is the perfect size for a hard hitting safety. When we tell you were afraid for our kids, please listen., Two things Darrell Green would always say to me that stuck with me, is your hands are great and your feet are better.
Information Technology Manager