Lem Barney. 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. If youre in the Hall of Fame, you know you are already one of the best to ever play the game. Your career right now is like wet cement. Heres what I want to do. However, nobody can deny he dominated the league during his era. The seven-time Pro Bowler still holds the NFL record for the most interceptions in a single season. Ranking the 15 greatest cornerbacks in NFL history. The Cowboys won 27 17, and Sanders spectacularly returned a punt for eleven yards. CBs making tackles on running plays; 2. It aint about one individual, it never is. CBs making tackles on . All rights reserved. He finished his college playing career with 17 defended passes and 154 tackles. pic.twitter.com/TqgZJqUarq. Happy Birthday to former #Lions Cornerback, Lem Barney! 1967 NFL Defensive Rookie of the year 7x Pro Bowl 2x All-Pro 1992 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee pic.twitter.com/fV7rDYN94G, Life does not always deal us a fair hand, Barney said. Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams Rod Woodson holds the NFL record for the most career interceptions returned for TDs (12). 1. Updated through the 2022 regular season. He spent time as a return specialist and wide receiver. 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. After finishing high school, he enrolled at Southern University, where he played college football during his junior year. When officials took a closer look, he actually clocked in with a 4.67. We present them here for purely educational purposes. 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. Find out more. Thebest CB of all timeby statistics started his career playing for Florida States University back in the 80s. Lester 'Bad Boy' Hayes - one of the greatest shutdown corners of all time is a notable absentee in my Top 10 list. In 2009, the two-time NFL interceptions leader (1998, 2005) retired with 53 interceptions, 169 pass deflections, seven defensive touchdowns, and five sacks. That was the unofficial time. He retired in 2004 with 13 touchdowns, 795 tackles, 55 interceptions, and 5 forced fumbles. Join our linker program. See, we left it on the field. This is about we., I encourage each and every one of you to start with a small but great practice of believing in yourself. Ronnie Lott had an incredible career that spanned 14 years. The skilled CB was selected to 12 Pro Bowls, a record at his position, and led the league in interceptions (10) in 2006. We need to present an image to people who want to do the right thing. 2.5 sacks to his bottom line along with a career-high 82 combined tackles. One of Woodson's most famous games came against Brady in the 2002 AFC Divisional Round, in which Woodson seemingly sealed a victory with a strip-sack of Brady late in the fourth quarter. 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. Bruce Matthews (left) played a record 296 games as an offensive lineman. The "Kansas Comet" was the most exciting, elusive runner ever in the NFL when he entered the league in 1965, scoring a rookie-record 22 touchdowns including an NFL-record-tying six in one game vs. the 49ers. Players must meet the minimum requirements to show up on this leaderboard. Gave them the lessons to wait, to be patient, to learn, and their time would come. 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. Brown had 54 career interceptions in his 16-year career and is unofficially credited with 331 career pass breakups. Green played an outstanding 295 career games, ranking 16th all-time and the most for the cornerback position. He was ranked by NFL network as the 2nd most feared tackler to ever play the game. For his career, Woodson recorded 71 interceptions (third all time) for 1,483 yards (second all time). He played for the Ravens until his retirement in 2005. And God told me not to leave Washington D.C., so I was there for 20 years. So, you young people set your goals high, you know, it can happen for you. 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. In this list, the top 18 cornerbacks are strictly Hall of Fame players. 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. Or write about sports? 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. After leaving the NFL for good, he focused on charity work. An eight-time Pro Bowler, he intercepted six passes as a rookie and led the league in interceptions (9) the following season. Ty Law was included in the Pro Football Hall of Fame back in 2019. After finishing high school, he accepted a scholarship offered by Southern University in Louisiana. He didnt just excel at cornerback, either. It was wrong in my day and it is wrong today. Its bigger than me If you understand that, you understand that its bigger than you too, Woodson once said according to The Pro Football Hall of Fame. A post shared by Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey). formidable cornerback. The exact cause of death was never released. Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State, 6-foot-1, 166, 4.35 (40) Forbes is significantly underweight with very skinny legs, but he ran like the wind and was a monster in drills. While the Arizona Cardinals achieved just one winning season during Aeneas Williams' 10-year tenure in Phoenix, he managed to stand out as one of the best cornerbacks of his time. 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. This was probably one of his best seasons in the NFL, with a record of six interceptions and three touchdowns. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Big Play will always love the fans! After his junior year, Ty Law left the college team to enter the NFL Draft in 1995, primarily due to financial issues. God bless., On this day in #SteelersHistory, @ProFootballHOF CB Mel Blount was selected in the 3rd round of the 1970 NFL Draft. 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. They don't do this, however, and there are a few other things to consider. 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. His stats may not be memorable, but opposing quarterbacks will never forget the nightmares he caused them on the field. Four-time Super Bowl champion Mel Blount helped make the Pittsburgh Steelers defense one of the most dominant in the league. In 1958, Moore had 132 touches for 1,536 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11.6 yards per . Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports. He retired from the sport with 157 games played, 68 interceptions, 1,207 interception return yards, and 6 touchdowns. Shortest NFL Players Of All Time Who Makes the Top 9 List? Butler played 9 seasons with the @steelers. While with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1987-1996), he forced 20 fumbles and scored six defensive TDs. With that said, 30. He contributed 167 total tackles, 28 pass deflections, 13.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions, two . Now more than ever, teams realize the importance of the positions, so lets look at the ten greatest to play the position. They doubted. When the governments and schools cant cope, it is time for the rest of us to pitch in. Knup Sports is a supporter and media partner of iGamingNEXT. Today we honor Hall of Fame running back and Spartan Dawg, Herb Adderley #BlackHistoryMonth #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/AUiYGpThrY, So, there is a beginning and everything. 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. Below are a few of the upcoming events to take note of. 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. He became an All-Pro when he moved back to safety and combined with Cliff Harris to form a formidable duo. Lonnie Johnson Jr. did his best to have the worst rookie season of a cornerback in Houston history last yeardespite going 54th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft earning a PFF grade of just 36.0 . By far one of the hardest positions in any sport to play, the cornerback is an essential part of any successful teams defense. Lester Hayes, Cornerback. The thirty-seven-year-old Darrelle Revis was born on the Jul 14, 1985 in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. And that is what has happened to me after I retired from football. and I learned to read linemen, running backsand anything else that moved upon the field. The former college linebacker out of Grambling State used his 6-foot-1-inch frame and elite speed to perfect this technique. You have to believe in yourself. From one true shutdown corner to a pair of all-purpose defensive backs, here are the top 10 cornerbacks in NFL history. Seriously, thank you Mr. Davis. Brents measured in at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds at the . The best cornerback of his era, "Revis Island" is a seven time Pro Bowler and four time All-Pro. Dick LeBeau Joe Sargent/Getty Images 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. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Mel Blount Mel Blount changed the NFL more than any cornerback has ever done by changing the rule book. 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. Sports Betting Community is a leader in iGaming industry news, media and events. He scored 48 touchdowns in his first 50 games and a record six TDs on kickoff returns. Lem Barney is a great example of a player who went to a smaller college but hit the ground running. Rod Woodson made a compelling case as the most complete cornerback of all time, if not the greatest. His 57 career interceptions rank tied for 13th all-time. I just wandered. In 1952, Dick "Night Train" Lane joined the Los Angeles Rams and immediately etched his name in history. The twelve-time Pro Bowler Champ Bailey also deserves a spot on our list of the top 10 cornerbacks of all time. Green was also a threat in the return game, though not being asked to do so for most of his career. Widely considered the best CB of all time, Rod Woodson started his college football career at Purdue University. 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. . Discussing the best cornerbacks of all time, we also have to mention Darrell Green. That I was able to allow my mama to go into a job and say Im not doing it anymore. 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.