These Linebackers Struck Fear Into the NFL

These Linebackers Struck Fear Into the NFL

Imagine you break the huddle, jog to the line, and glance across to find a set of eyes that say it is about to be a long day. You can feel the clock in your head speed up. The run you loved on Thursday does not feel safe anymore, and every protection call sounds a little shaky. That is what true fear looks like in football, and linebackers have authored that feeling for decades. Before we start the countdown, a quick salute to a few honorable mentions who absolutely made ball carriers think twice.
Honorable mentions. Von Miller brought closer energy with rare get off and bend, a two time Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl 50 MVP who lived among the all time sack leaders and forced constant chips and slides. Luke Kuechly scared offenses with his brain, a seven time Pro Bowler and 2013 Defensive Player of the Year who called out plays before the snap and beat you to the spot. Bobby Wagner was inevitable, a Super Bowl XLVIII champion and perennial All Pro who turned explosives into tackles for minimal gain and ran the show for a decade. Willie Lanier set the early standard, an eight time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl IV champion who mixed range with force in the middle. Ray Nitschke made the middle a toll road, a five time NFL champion with the Lombardi Packers whose presence alone changed decisions.