# 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.

*By YPB Team · Published November 10, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-31-greatest-nfl-defensive-tackles-of-all-time*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Joe Greene** — score 1000/1000
   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.
2. **Bob Lilly** — score 821/1000
   Cowboys defensive tackle from 1961 to 1974 who made 11 Pro Bowls, won Super Bowl VI and entered the Hall of Fame in 1980.
3. **Aaron Donald** — score 815/1000
   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.
4. **Art Donovan** — score 719/1000
   Baltimore Colts defensive tackle who won the 1958 and 1959 NFL championships and became the franchise's first Hall of Famer in 1968.
5. **Merlin Olsen** — score 694/1000
   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.
6. **La'Roi Glover** — score 694/1000
   Defensive tackle for the Saints, Cowboys and Rams who led the NFL with 17 sacks in 2000 and made six Pro Bowls.
7. **Alex Karras** — score 642/1000
   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.
8. **Curley Culp** — score 582/1000
   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.
9. **Leo Nomellini** — score 582/1000
   49ers defensive tackle from 1950 to 1963 who made 10 Pro Bowls and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1969.
10. **Joe Klecko** — score 582/1000
   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.
11. **Alan Page** — score 582/1000
   Vikings and Bears defensive tackle who in 1971 became the first defensive player named NFL MVP, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.
12. **Kevin Williams** — score 582/1000
   Vikings defensive tackle from 2003 to 2013 who made six Pro Bowls and five first-team All-Pro teams.
13. **Dan Hampton** — score 513/1000
   Bears defensive lineman from 1979 to 1990 who won Super Bowl XX, made four Pro Bowls and entered the Hall of Fame in 2002.
14. **Ndamukong Suh** — score 513/1000
   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.
15. **Vince Wilfork** — score 513/1000
   Patriots nose tackle from 2004 to 2014 who won Super Bowls XXXIX and XLIX and made five Pro Bowls.
16. **Chris Jones** — score 513/1000
   Chiefs defensive tackle since 2016 who won Super Bowls LIV, LVII and LVIII.
17. **Henry Jordan** — score 513/1000
   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.
18. **Warren Sapp** — score 434/1000
   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.
19. **Cameron Heyward** — score 434/1000
   Steelers defensive tackle drafted in the first round in 2011 who won the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
20. **Bill Willis** — score 342/1000
   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.
21. **Geno Atkins** — score 342/1000
   Bengals defensive tackle from 2010 to 2020, a 2010 fourth-round pick who made eight Pro Bowls.
22. **John Randle** — score 342/1000
   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.
23. **Steve McMichael** — score 342/1000
   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.
24. **Randy White** — score 233/1000
   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.
25. **Buck Buchanan** — score 233/1000
   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.
26. **Fletcher Cox** — score 233/1000
   Eagles defensive tackle from 2012 to 2023 who made six Pro Bowls and won Super Bowl LII.
27. **Bryant Young** — score 233/1000
   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.
28. **Cortez Kennedy** — score 233/1000
   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.
29. **Keith Millard** — score 233/1000
   Vikings defensive tackle who recorded 18 sacks in 1989 and was named that season's Defensive Player of the Year.
30. **Ernie Stautner** — score 0/1000
   Steelers defensive tackle from 1950 to 1963 who made nine Pro Bowls and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1969.
31. **Haloti Ngata** — score 0/1000
   Ravens defensive tackle from 2006 to 2014 who made five Pro Bowls and won Super Bowl XLVII.

Tags: american-football, players, nfl, all time, defensive tackles