Most Productive Linebackers in NFL history

[The Gipper]

I have used the Pro Football Reference Career Production stat before in certain analysis. There was some discussion earlier about Shazier, and Ohio State Linebackers, so I looked up and compiled data about who the best....or at least most productive LBs have been in history. Again. in this longevity helps, but it does provide some insight. Here are the LBs with the highest production scores in history:

 

Ray Lewis...159

Derrick Brooks...140

Lawrence Taylor...137

Junior Seau...127

Mike Singletary...123

Brian Urlacher...119

Zack Thomas...115

Chris Doleman..114

Rickey Jackson...113

Jack Ham...112

Jack Lambert...109

Ted Hendricks...107

Derrick Thomas...105

Bobby Bell...102

Nick Buonticonti...102

London Fletcher...102

Isaiah Robertson...100

Pat Swilling...99

Wilbur Marshall Marshall...98

Lance Briggs...97

James Farrior...97

Chris Hanburger...96

Hardy Nickerson...96

Chuck Howley...95

Kevin Greene...94

Clay Matthews II...94

Ray Nitschke...94

Greg Lloyd...93

Karl Mecklenburg...92

Harry Carson...91

Terrell Suggs...91

Andre Tippett...90

Leroy Jordan...90

Patrick Willis...90

Cornelius Bennet...89

Joey Porter...89

Moe Lewis...89

Randy Gradishar...88

Takeo Spikes...88

DeMarcus Ware..88

Willie Lanier...88

Ken Norton Jr....88

James Harrison...87

Larry Grantham...85

Seth Joyner...85

Maxie Baughn...84

Chad Brown...84

Tom Jackson...83

Donnie Edwards...83

Dave Robinson...81

Keith Brookings...80

Levon Kirkland...80

Dick Butkus...78

Sam Huff...65

Bill George 59*

Chuck Bednarik 21*

Les Richter...18*

George Connor...0*

Joe Schmidt...?

Dave Wilcox...?

 

Bold: HOF, Italics: active * played some before CPA computed. Brown...played for Browns

[The Gipper]

A couple of observations:

 

This list is deficient of Cleveland Browns players. Only Clay Mathews is on here. (the list showed anyone with over an 80 score, plus Hall of Famers). Whereas there may be a dozen Bears, and a half dozen..or more former Steelers. The Browns need to start getting some damn quality LBs.

 

Also, who on this list will warrant HOF induction? Clearly Lewis, Seau, and Urlacher. What about Zach Thomas? London Fletcher?