The NFL is known for many things such as, high salaries, which is hopefully accompanied by a financial advisor, mascots and injuries. As a contact sport, it’s obvious football will inevitably attract the warrior breed. Sometimes, there comes a player who surpasses the standard for the NFL. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of the toughest NFL players to ever play the sport.
John Randle
Hall of Famer Randle frightened all the opposing linemen. According to Coach John Teerlinck, Randle rehearsed techniques on doorways while practicing his spins on innocent bystanders at the grocery store. At least, he didn’t practice tackles on them!
John Randle
Lawrence Taylor
Up next is Lawrence Taylor, who defined warrior for most of his opponents. This NY Giants linebacker caused Philadelphia Eagles player, Jerry Sisemore, to break into cold sweats leading up to the game. Beasly Reece even said to the NY Times, “I’ve seen quarterbacks look at Lawrence and forget the snap count.” That’s one powerful reputation!
Lawrence Taylor
John Lynch
Former strong safety John Lynch started out playing with Tampa Bay before signing with the Denver Broncos. His reputation caused the San Diego Chargers tight end, Antonio Gates, to avoid certain parts of the field! Furthermore, he admitted this technique was to avoid the infamous Lynch. However, you don’t need to worry about Lynch’s bold moves on the field now. At last, he retired and moved on to general managing.
John Lynch
Bruce Smith
Buffalo Bills defense end Smith proved indispensable to his team. His Bills teammate, Fred Smerlas explained the nature of Smith’s playing skills, “There are good players, very good players, great players, exceptional players and ridiculous players. Bruce is a ridiculous player.” Smith holds the record for most quarterback sacks in the NFL history at 200 sacks! Now, that’s a lot of tackling.
Bruce Smith
Conrad Dobler
Firstly, this next one may not be a defensive player, but as Sports Illustrated’s “Pro Football’s Dirtiest Player,” how could we skip him? Conrad Dobler’s tactics may not have been admired as much as some of our other choices on this list. Sportswriter Paul Zimmerman explained what differentiated Dobler, “Conrad Dobler was mean dirty. He tried to hurt people in a bad way…he made teams that he played on better. He played hurt, didn’t complain, but he was a filthy, filthy player.”
Conrad Dobler
James Harrison
When it comes to this NFL star, a lot can be said. However, it’s worth mentioning he worked out with 130 lb overhead presses, 675 lb weights for hip thrusts and get this…leg presses with 1,120 lb! He’s a real life Hulk. Even with two Super Bowl champions to boast about and a five-time Pro Bowler, James Harrison is most often remembered for his phenomenal strength.
James Harrison
Chuck Bednarik
First draft to the Eagles back in 1949, this Slovak American was nicknamed “Concrete Charlie,” because of his skills. Wow, a first draft today would need to consult with lawyers, an agent and a financial advisor at minimum to negotiate deals, but Bednarik played at a much simpler time. One of the last two-way players, he played offense and defense positions. Bednarik was an infamous tackler and perhaps the most brutal in the league’s history. Concrete Charlie was inducted into the Hall of Fame the moment he became eligible in 1967.
Chuck Bednarik
Leonard Davis
Davis broke records with his warrior ways. Actually, Davis was one of the most penalized players in the NFL at four-two penalties. Despite this, he received Pro Bowl and All-Pro awards back in 2007. In addition to his ruthless nature on the field, his career as offensive lineman lasted for twelve seasons.
Leonard Davis
Steve Atwater
Obviously, everyone knows that Steve Atwater played some of the roughest football the NFL has seen. One of the most famous of his notorious hits has to be when he took down Kansas City Chief’s Christian Okoye during the third down. The former free safety goes down in not just Broncos history, but national football history.
Steve Atwater
Sean Taylor
Teammates nicknamed Sean Taylor,”Meast,” which means half man and half beast. Clearly, Taylor had to be included in this list. Furthermore, who could forget the three-sixty rotation of wide receiver P.K. Sam after free safety Taylor slammed him? He even sent Terrell Owens to the trainer’s bench. Tragically, Taylor was murdered by home intruders in 2007. His legacy will surely live on.
Sean Taylor
Dick Lane
As we’ve seen, nicknames are quite revealing and this player’s stays true to that. Dick Lane, also known as the “Night Train,” was one of the most ferocious in the NFL’s history. Consistently, he injured players almost every tackle. Naturally, he ranked in second on NFL Network’s “Most Feared Tacklers” of all time.
Dick Lane
Deacon Jones
Infamous NFL player Deacon Jones didn’t need a financial advisor, but rather a lawyer. Notorious for bizarre and dangerous tactics, such as taping metal disks around his hands, Jones did more than tackle many opponents. Once, he even slapped his hands on the offensive player’s ears! Believe it or not, Bob Brown once replaced his helmet screws with longer screws he had filed. Thus, causing Jones to pierce his own hands on the filed down screws. As Jones left a mark on NFL history, Brown left his own mark on the tough player.
Deacon Jones
Jack Youngblood
Undoubtedly, Jack Youngblood’s dedication is unmatched! Most noteworthy, Youngblood played on a broken leg back in the 1979 NFC Championship. Clearly, the LA Rams surely appreciated this enthusiastic commitment, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Jack Youngblood
Reggie White
Perhaps, the best defensive end to ever play the game, Reggie White played defensive end for fifteen seasons. Whereas, I can’t even commit to dinner plans. Just behind Bruce Smith’s 200, White comes in second for most sacks. It’s no mystery why he was nicknamed the “Minister of Defense.”
Reggie White
Bill Romanowski
Romanowski strategically used his energy, as he stated in 2015, “The way I saw it, the more violence and nastiness I played with out on the field, the more I was feared and hated by opponents — and loved by my coaches, teammates and fans.” As a result, he was fined on multiple occasions for incidents on the field.
Bill Romanowski
Derrick Thomas
On NFL’s record, Thomas ranked 16th for most sacks with 126.5. Within one game, he once had a total of seven sacks! One of the best pass rushers, Thomas played all of his eleven years with the Chiefs.
Derrick Thomas
Troy Polamalu
California native from Samoan descent, Polamalu claimed the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2010. Polamalu played with the Steelers as a strong safety. Infamous for rough tackles in addition to big interceptions, this player could not be stopped.
Troy Polamalu
Joe Greene
His nickname could not be more direct: “Mean” Joe Greene. As one of the most feared NFL defensive players, he even gave Dick Butkus a run for his money. Additionally, he famously disrupted blocks and overpowered any offensive opponents.
Joe Greene
Jack Tatum
Jack “The Assassin” Tatum was notorious for his ferocious hits on opponents, many times causing injury. Unfortunately, he paralyzed Darryl Stingley. His obituary in the NY Times claimed he was a “symbol of a violent game.”
Jack Tatum
Rodney Harrison
Playing strong safety for both the San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots, Rodney Scott Harrison won two Super Bowls. Upon retirement, Harrison had thirty sacks in addition to thirty interceptions! He was selected twice for Pro Bowl. With his thirty sacks, he has maintained the defensive back record for sacks.
Rodney Harrison
Ronnie Lott
One of the best safeties, Ronnie Lott went to extremes when it came to football. He amputated his broken pinkie just to get off the bench in April 1986! Now, that is commitment. Don’t know how many others can say they would do the same!
Ronnie Lott
Dick Butkus
Bears’ linebaker, Dick Butkus slammed players to the ground in order to free the ball. As a matter of fact, this new method forced the players to fumble instead of going for their legs. Furthermore, Butkus easily claims the title of most feared tackler from the NFL Network in 2009.
Dick Butkus
Jim Brown
Most noteworthy, Brown was invited to the Pro Bowl every single season of his career from 1957 to 1965. Unsurprisingly, The Sporting News named him “the greatest professional football player ever.” The Cleveland Browns retired James Nathaniel Brown’s number 32 jersey. He even holds the record for the only player to average more than one hundred rushing yards per game.
Jim Brown
Ray Lewis
Raymond Anthony Lewis Jr. played middle linebacker for the Ravens all of his 17 years as a pro. Most notably, he’s considered one of the best linebackers in history. His tough reputation does not end on the field. He pled guilty to obstruction of justice in 2000 for his connection to a stabbing incident.
Ray Lewis
Jack Lambert
If John Harold Lambert’s toothless grin isn’t telling enough for you, his nickname as the “Toothless Assassin” may do it for you! He was deemed the “premier linebacker of his era” in 1990 by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. During his eleven years with the Steelers even fans were timid to approach!
Jack Lambert
Randy Moss
Tough guy Randy Gene Moss holds the record for single-season touchdown receptions with seventeen total. Moss played wide receiver on several teams. Unsurprisingly, he ranks number two on all-time regular season touchdown receptions at a whopping 156!
Randy Moss
Emmitt Smith
Smith’s performance during his fifteen seasons earned him the title of leading rusher. In one season along he won a Super Bowl champion along with Superbowl MVP, the NFL MVP award, and NFL rushing crown. As a Dallas Cowboy, he won three Super Bowls.
Emmitt Smith
Jerry Rice
Perhaps the greatest wide receiver, Rice played twenty seasons in the NFL. Most of his career he spent with the 49ers. He’s considered the best route runner. In addition to his AFC Championship and three Super Bowls, Rice holds over one hundred NFL records! That’s more records than any NFL player. The Sporting News listed him second, just behind Jim Brown, on the list of “Football’s 100 Greatest Players.”
Jerry Rice
Warren Sapp
Despite controversy for his rough tackles and verbal outbursts, Warren Sapp is known for his record breaking career as a defensive lineman. Unfortunately, he was once removed from a game because of unsportsmanlike conduct. Moreover, he played for both the Buccaneers and Raiders during his twelve years as an NFL player. Remarkably, his 96.5 sacks ranks him at second for highest sacks for a defensive tackle. The nose tackle was perhaps his infamous move that other teams later adopted. Sapp was selected seven times for the Pro Bowl and won the Super Bowl in 2002.
Warren Sapp
Brian Dawkins
Dawkins brought the Eagles to a competitive level during his peak. The Eagles drafted him in the second round of the 1996 draft. Infamous for talking trash, his defensive skills put that talk to the test. Ultimately, he became known as “Weapon X.”
Brian Dawkins