The 31 Greatest NFL Defensive Tackles of All Time

Pro Bowlers of the 1950s line up here against modern sack leaders, nose tackles and Defensive Player of the Year winners.

1. 1
   Joe Greene

   Anchor of the Steelers' Steel Curtain from 1969 to 1981, twice Defensive Player of the Year (1972, 1974) and a four-time Super Bowl champion, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Bob Lilly

   Cowboys defensive tackle from 1961 to 1974 who made 11 Pro Bowls, won Super Bowl VI and entered the Hall of Fame in 1980.
   821pts
3. 3
   Aaron Donald

   Rams defensive tackle from 2014 to 2023 who won three Defensive Player of the Year awards, made 10 Pro Bowls and won Super Bowl LVI.
   815pts
4. 4
   Art Donovan

   Baltimore Colts defensive tackle who won the 1958 and 1959 NFL championships and became the franchise's first Hall of Famer in 1968.
   719pts
5. 5
   Merlin Olsen

   Member of the Rams' Fearsome Foursome from 1962 to 1976 who was selected to 14 Pro Bowls and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982.
   694pts
6. 6
   La'Roi Glover

   Defensive tackle for the Saints, Cowboys and Rams who led the NFL with 17 sacks in 2000 and made six Pro Bowls.
   694pts
7. 7
   Alex Karras

   Lions defensive tackle from 1958 to 1970 who made four Pro Bowls, later acted in Blazing Saddles, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2020.
   642pts
8. 8
   Curley Culp

   Nose tackle for the Chiefs, Oilers and Lions who won Super Bowl IV, made six Pro Bowls and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.
   582pts
9. 9
   Leo Nomellini

   49ers defensive tackle from 1950 to 1963 who made 10 Pro Bowls and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1969.
   582pts
10. 10
    Joe Klecko

    Jets defensive lineman from 1977 to 1987 who made Pro Bowls at end, tackle and nose tackle and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023.
    582pts
11. 11
    Alan Page

    Vikings and Bears defensive tackle who in 1971 became the first defensive player named NFL MVP, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.
    582pts
12. 12
    Kevin Williams

    Vikings defensive tackle from 2003 to 2013 who made six Pro Bowls and five first-team All-Pro teams.
    582pts
13. 13
    Dan Hampton

    Bears defensive lineman from 1979 to 1990 who won Super Bowl XX, made four Pro Bowls and entered the Hall of Fame in 2002.
    513pts
14. 14
    Ndamukong Suh

    Defensive tackle drafted second overall by the Lions in 2010 who was that year's Defensive Rookie of the Year, made five Pro Bowls and won Super Bowl LV with the Buccaneers.
    513pts
15. 15
    Vince Wilfork

    Patriots nose tackle from 2004 to 2014 who won Super Bowls XXXIX and XLIX and made five Pro Bowls.
    513pts
16. 16
    Chris Jones

    Chiefs defensive tackle since 2016 who won Super Bowls LIV, LVII and LVIII.
    513pts
17. 17
    Henry Jordan

    Packers defensive tackle under Vince Lombardi who won five NFL championships, including Super Bowls I and II, and entered the Hall of Fame in 1995.
    513pts
18. 18
    Warren Sapp

    Buccaneers and Raiders defensive tackle who was the 1999 Defensive Player of the Year, won Super Bowl XXXVII and entered the Hall of Fame in 2013.
    434pts
19. 19
    Cameron Heyward

    Steelers defensive tackle drafted in the first round in 2011 who won the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
    434pts
20. 20
    Bill Willis

    Cleveland Browns middle guard from 1946 to 1953 and one of the first Black players of pro football's modern era, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977.
    342pts
21. 21
    Geno Atkins

    Bengals defensive tackle from 2010 to 2020, a 2010 fourth-round pick who made eight Pro Bowls.
    342pts
22. 22
    John Randle

    Undrafted tackle who recorded 137.5 career sacks with the Vikings and Seahawks, made seven Pro Bowls and entered the Hall of Fame in 2010.
    342pts
23. 23
    Steve McMichael

    Bears defensive tackle from 1981 to 1993 who won Super Bowl XX, made two Pro Bowls and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024.
    342pts
24. 24
    Randy White

    Cowboys defensive tackle from 1975 to 1988, co-MVP of Super Bowl XII with nine Pro Bowls, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994.
    233pts
25. 25
    Buck Buchanan

    Chiefs defensive tackle from 1963 to 1975, the first overall pick of the 1963 AFL draft, who won Super Bowl IV and entered the Hall of Fame in 1990.
    233pts
26. 26
    Fletcher Cox

    Eagles defensive tackle from 2012 to 2023 who made six Pro Bowls and won Super Bowl LII.
    233pts
27. 27
    Bryant Young

    49ers defensive tackle from 1994 to 2007 who won Super Bowl XXIX, was the 1999 Comeback Player of the Year and entered the Hall of Fame in 2022.
    233pts
28. 28
    Cortez Kennedy

    Seahawks defensive tackle from 1990 to 2000 who won 1992 Defensive Player of the Year, made eight Pro Bowls and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012.
    233pts
29. 29
    Keith Millard

    Vikings defensive tackle who recorded 18 sacks in 1989 and was named that season's Defensive Player of the Year.
    233pts
30. 30
    Ernie Stautner

    Steelers defensive tackle from 1950 to 1963 who made nine Pro Bowls and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1969.
    0pts
31. 31
    Haloti Ngata

    Ravens defensive tackle from 2006 to 2014 who made five Pro Bowls and won Super Bowl XLVII.
    0pts

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