The 32 Greatest NFL Safeties of All Time

Ball hawks, enforcers and hard-hitting center fielders, drawn from every era of pro football. Some piled up interceptions, others changed how offenses attacked the middle of the field.

1. 1
   Ed Reed

   Baltimore Ravens free safety from 2002 to 2012, 2004 Defensive Player of the Year with 64 career interceptions, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Ronnie Lott

   San Francisco 49ers defensive back who won four Super Bowls and finished with 63 interceptions, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.
   990pts
3. 3
   Dick Anderson

   Miami Dolphins safety from 1968 to 1977, the 1973 Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time Super Bowl champion.
   799pts
4. 4
   Minkah Fitzpatrick

   Safety who earned three first-team All-Pro selections with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019, 2020 and 2022.
   799pts
5. 5
   Harrison Smith

   Minnesota Vikings safety drafted in 2012 with six Pro Bowl selections.
   786pts
6. 6
   Cliff Harris

   Dallas Cowboys free safety from 1970 to 1979 with six Pro Bowl selections and two Super Bowl titles, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.
   708pts
7. 7
   John Lynch

   Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos safety with nine Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl XXXVII title, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021.
   655pts
8. 8
   Ken Houston

   Houston Oilers and Washington safety from 1967 to 1980 who returned nine interceptions for touchdowns, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.
   654pts
9. 9
   Joey Browner

   Minnesota Vikings safety from 1983 to 1991 with six consecutive Pro Bowl selections.
   654pts
10. 10
    Paul Krause

    Washington and Minnesota Vikings safety who holds the NFL record with 81 career interceptions, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.
    593pts
11. 11
    Emlen Tunnell

    New York Giants and Green Bay Packers safety whose 79 interceptions rank second all time, the first Black player inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1967.
    524pts
12. 12
    Larry Wilson

    St. Louis Cardinals free safety from 1960 to 1972 known for popularizing the safety blitz, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978.
    524pts
13. 13
    Johnny Robinson

    Dallas Texans and Kansas City Chiefs safety from 1960 to 1971 who won Super Bowl IV, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.
    524pts
14. 14
    Jack Christiansen

    Detroit Lions safety and return man on the 1952, 1953 and 1957 NFL title teams, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1970.
    524pts
15. 15
    Kam Chancellor

    Seattle Seahawks strong safety from 2010 to 2017 with four Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl XLVIII title.
    524pts
16. 16
    Darren Woodson

    Dallas Cowboys safety from 1992 to 2003, the franchise's career tackles leader and a three-time Super Bowl champion.
    443pts
17. 17
    Sean Taylor

    Washington safety from 2004 to 2007 with two Pro Bowl selections, who died in November 2007 at age 24.
    443pts
18. 18
    Charlie Waters

    Dallas Cowboys safety from 1970 to 1981 with three Pro Bowl selections and two Super Bowl titles.
    443pts
19. 19
    Troy Polamalu

    Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety from 2003 to 2014, 2010 Defensive Player of the Year and two-time Super Bowl champion, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.
    349pts
20. 20
    Yale Lary

    Detroit Lions safety and punter on three NFL championship teams in the 1950s, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.
    349pts
21. 21
    Steve Atwater

    Denver Broncos safety with eight Pro Bowl selections and two Super Bowl titles, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.
    349pts
22. 22
    Kenny Easley

    Seattle Seahawks strong safety from 1981 to 1987 and the 1984 Defensive Player of the Year, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.
    349pts
23. 23
    Earl Thomas

    Seattle Seahawks free safety from 2010 to 2018, a three-time first-team All-Pro and Super Bowl XLVIII champion.
    349pts
24. 24
    Adrian Wilson

    Arizona Cardinals safety from 2001 to 2012 with five Pro Bowl selections and 25.5 career sacks.
    349pts
25. 25
    Brian Dawkins

    Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos safety with nine Pro Bowl selections, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.
    238pts
26. 26
    Eric Berry

    Kansas City Chiefs safety, three-time first-team All-Pro, who won 2015 Comeback Player of the Year after treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma.
    238pts
27. 27
    Rodney Harrison

    San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots safety, the first player with 30 career sacks and 30 interceptions, and a two-time Super Bowl champion.
    238pts
28. 28
    Ed Meador

    Los Angeles Rams defensive back from 1959 to 1970 with six Pro Bowl selections and 46 interceptions.
    238pts
29. 29
    Eric Weddle

    San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Rams safety with six Pro Bowl selections who came out of retirement to win Super Bowl LVI.
    238pts
30. 30
    Donnie Shell

    Undrafted Pittsburgh Steelers safety from 1974 to 1987 who won four Super Bowls, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.
    0pts
31. 31
    LeRoy Butler

    Green Bay Packers safety from 1990 to 2001, credited with the first Lambeau Leap, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022.
    0pts
32. 32
    Tyrann Mathieu

    Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints safety, a three-time first-team All-Pro and Super Bowl LIV champion.
    0pts

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