Legendary Linebackers: Urlacher & Lewis

by Mark Saade on Dec 21, 2009 1:00 PM CST in Notes Comment 13 comments

NFL middle linebackers Brian Urlacher and Ray Lewis will be forever linked as two of the best linebackers of the 21st Century, maybe even two of the best football players of all time.

Urlacher has manned the middle of the Chicago Bears defense since 2000; Lewis has held down the Baltimore Ravens defense for the last 13 years. Both men taking their defenses and teams to the top of the NFL ranks. Numerous awards and accolades have been dished out to the two superstars. The total number of tackles between them running well into the thousands.

Many great athletes have put on a helmet and shoulder pads to play linebacker in the NFL. Names such as Ray Nitschke, Sam Huff and Jack Lambert are all mentioned when discussing the greatest linebackers in history. Of course, when talking about linebackers two former Bears players are always in the conversation; Dick Butkus and Mike Singletary. Because of the rich history of the position within Chicago, Urlacher has had much to live up.

When looking back over the NFL’s last 10 years, only a few linebackers may be worthy of having their bust displayed in Canton, Ohio. Players such as Junior Seau, Derrick Brooks and of course the two subjects of this article.

Though Urlacher and Lewis play the same position, they are asked to do very different things for their team. Lewis, the emotional leader, stares down the opposing quarterback and is ready to pounce on anyone in a different color jersey. Urlacher, the prototypical linebacker for a Cover 2 defense, runs as fast as any player on the field and has the smarts to call his own defensive plays. No matter what they bring to the table, each of these men eat. Both are asked to do different things in order for their teams to succeed and both do it. Comparing these men’s stats is only scratching the surface of their worth to their team. Since each one is asked to do something different in different defensive schemes; comparing tackle, sack and interception numbers would only cheapen the impact these men have on the field.

Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher have both blazed through the league and left their marks for all of the future to see. Though Urlacher was picked higher than Lewis on draft day, (#9 and #26 overall respectively), Lewis was the more popular college player. Coming out one year early from the Univeristy of Miami, Lewis made an immediate impact on the Ravens by leading the team in tackles in his rookie year. Urlacher would make his draft stock soar after an impressive rookie combine showing. Playing safety at the University of New Mexico, Urlacher would bulk up after his senior year in college and quickly show the NFL that his athletic ability could not be ignored.

Over the course of their impressive careers, the two men have between them; two Super Bowl appearances, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, a Defensive Rookie of the Year award and 16 trips to Hawaii.

Urlacher and Lewis both have storied NFL careers that still have chapters left to be written. If both men were to retire tomorrow, they should be considered as two of the best the game has ever seen.

The NFL has a new crop of young tacklers eager to carry on the linebacking torch. Let’s hope they can live up to the standards set by Urlacher and Lewis.

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Butkus was the greatest linebacker of all time

He played the game faster and hit much harder than anyone in his era. But the game has changed a lot in 40 years. Guys are bigger and faster, now. He would probably be average if he played in the NFL today.

I’m sure by the end of this century, they will be much bigger and faster than Urlacher and Lewis…

"Yes, risk taking is inherently failure-prone. Otherwise, it would be called sure-thing-taking." - Jim McMahon

by JimmyMack on Dec 21, 2009 3:38 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Back then

they played with reckless abandon. They didn’t have pads that scientists made, or protein enhanced drinks for muscle building. They played with a mean streak. They used taunts, and intimidation to get in the heads of opponents. They bit, and fought tooth and nail every down. It was a different game. Not totally comparable to today. Where they used to be tough, they are now athletic.

by GtM on Dec 21, 2009 3:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

great post

Hey Mark, thank you for the positive post.
Urlacher actually played the “lobo” back position at New Mexico, which was a cross between a safety and a linebacker and combined elements of both. In addition I believe he also ran back punts and/or kick offs on rare occasions.
Urlacher has not been a strong proponent of the cover-2 and his role in it, so you gotta wonder how he would have fared in a different scheme.

"I am not an animal!" - Merrick

by Maelvampyre on Dec 21, 2009 4:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed about Butkus

Lewis and Urlacher are great, but no MLB has ever made players crap their pants quite like Butkus did when they saw him coming for them. Not Nitshcke, not Taylor, not anyone – you watch the highlights from his tragically shortened career, and watch the helmets of the opposing teams keep getting torn off from their faces.

by Waylon on Dec 21, 2009 5:16 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Dan Pastorini

said he almost pissed his pants at the LOS across from Butkus.

OJ Simpson and others have made similar comments.

When God created the perfect LB, he made Dick Butkus.
The perfect all-around NFL player, he made Walter Payton.
The perfect head coach he made Vince Lombardi (although Mike Ditka was cut from the same cloth as St. Vincent).

by axthelm on Dec 21, 2009 5:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Even though they hadn't spoken in years

(due to the fact that Butkus sued the Bears and won over his knees), George Halas signed a copy of his autobiography to Dick Butkus this way:

“To the greatest football player I ever saw.”

Notice that he didn’t say “to the greatest football player I ever coached.”
No, it was “ever saw.”

Pretty high praise from the guy who basically founded the NFL.

by axthelm on Dec 21, 2009 5:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

When Butkus hit you, you stayed hit.

Also, a highlight reel.

You are all gentlemen (and ladies) and good judges of cheap whiskey.

by Dane Noble on Dec 21, 2009 5:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I will forever be sad

That I can’t watch Hi-Def video of the all time greats, having never seen them play.

I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule. -Randal Graves

I want and/or need followers. http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers

by Kev H on Dec 21, 2009 6:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Dick Butkus HOF highlight reel.

I’ve never seen a guy play with that sheer level of utter hostility. “Awesome” is an overused word but I can’t think of one more apt to describe him.

"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." - Bertrand Russell
"F*** everybody outside of Halas Hall. BEARDOWN" - WavyGravy

by Spongie on Dec 21, 2009 8:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't remember the exact quote, but

someone once said something to the effect that “you can tell the true greatness of someone if, when you describe them, you don’t compare them to anyone else”. Nobody ever compares Butkus to anyone other player when they talk about the way he played, instead, he’s the benchmark.

by BearFan611 on Dec 21, 2009 9:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I’ve never heard that before, but it’s certainly true and come to think of it, you’re right: Butkus is never compared to any other linebacker.

"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." - Bertrand Russell
"F*** everybody outside of Halas Hall. BEARDOWN" - WavyGravy

by Spongie on Dec 22, 2009 10:43 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher have both blazed through the league and left their marks for all of the future to see. "

Those are stab wounds.

But seriously, they had incredible decades.

Is Jerry Angelo fired yet?

by ES46NE10 on Dec 21, 2009 11:39 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget Nitske

He was a beast and just plain mean. He is right up there. Urlacher is one of the 2 best modern MLBs but for sheer physicality, leadership and smarts Lewis is the better of the two and possibly the best. I was harboring a desire for the Bengals to sign him as a FA as unrealistic as my desire was. He could mold Rivers and Malaluga and have inspired our team D like no other. It isn’t just his play. It is his ability to make the rest of the D better. I hope he retires soon. He would be a super coach and I would hate to see him play beyond his body’s ability to perform. I watched Wily Mays, my all time favorite baseball player, play a year too long and it was sad.

" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran

by JUNGLEJOHN on Dec 22, 2009 8:53 AM CST reply actions 0 recs