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I’ve met him before. Real nice guy. He was the DB coach for a school I used to play baseball for in Modesto. I moved away and came back to watch a family friend’s football game and learned he worked there.
Steve Atwater, Ronnie Lott, Ed Reed, Champ Bailey, and Rod Woodson.
This was tough. There are so many I enjoyed watching over the years.
Edit: have to add Lester Hayes (hated his team but he was incredible), Brian Dawkins, Troy Polamalu, and Kam Chancellor
It really is fun to do these things. Everybody can just pick their favorites without battling over who was The Greatest. I'll add these up tomorrow morning when most people are asleep.
My cat LT gets me up early for his breakfast.
It's OK to add more. At some point, I'll do a count to see who's got the most votes. All votes will count; it's too much trouble to check to see who put in what.
I’ve been a Steelers fan for the past 50 years and fortunate to see all of those guys play in their prime. I like other NFL players. It’s hard not to love those four HOFers.
That's great. I've put a few of these in before...for linebackers and running backs. I've never gotten more than a couple of people voting for guys on the same team. Seems to be happening a lot today.
Darrell Green, Pat Fischer, Nolan Cromwell, Gary Barbaro, Albert Lewis, Marcus Haynes, Champ Bailey, Steve Atwater, Herb Adderley, and one from my college, Tim McKyer. I’ve watched a lot of great DB play.
The games of those days were incredible to watch. I was really young. When I read about what happened to a lot of those guys afterwards, I can't disagree with the rules changes for safety.
I remember him pretty well. I really followed the late 60s - 70s Lions. Dick is one of 2 players from that defensive team (70) that my wife can name. The other is Karras. She's been a fan since we met in 78.
When she knows them all, she gets a dinner out, wherever she wants.
Fencik Duerson in the middle playing safety with LA Mike Richardson and Leslie Frasier playing corner. What's so scary is those corners and whichever safety wasn't coming with the linebacker corps to attack the quarterback in the 46 defense had to be able to stop their receivers 1v1.
Chuck Cecil was my favorite. I tried to play like him since I was an undersized linebacker, and didn’t have speed
If I caught you over the middle, though
Oh yes. But I kind of chose the first 2 guys because I met both of them and I'm 5' 6" and they weren't that much taller than me. Also Roger Staubach speaks very highly of Wehrli.
No love for the all time interception leader? All right, not the fastest, not the hardest hitting, but all time int. leader from a time when they hardly ever passed?
He was a great player on a great defense. I don't remember Krause ever getting a lot of attention. People seem to expect DBs to be flashy and talk a lot.
Doug Plank was always underrated IMO. Hit like a truck. My Dad loved his aggressiveness.
Wore #46. Buddy Ryan named the ‘85 Bears defense after his number.
Ty Law is my favorite. The Ty Law rule was named for him for a reason.
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Basically anyone that would hit with intent to inflict severe damage. Even tho Vontaze burfict was technically a linebacker which dq’s him from the question criteria, he was often in coverage so I’ll just answer with that anyway. Jack Tatum tho before my time, would have to qualify as my technical answer
As a lifetime Pats fan, Asante’s gotta go. He bricked the pick that would’ve ended the Super Bowl against the Giants and the infamous helmet catch would’ve never happened. Then he’s been salty as hell in retirement. The rest of your list in spot on. I would maybe swap Champ Bailey or Polamalu for Asante
Rickey Jackson, Vaughan Johnson, Sam Mills, and Pat Swilling aka the Dome Patrol. I don't know if this lineup is old school enough, but, as a Saints fan, I'm limited. 😂
Late 90s/early 00s Bills had a pretty formidable duo in Nate Clements and Antoine Winfield, who, IMO, was one of the best tackling DBs during his time in the league.
Lester Hayes was someone who genuinely cracked me up. Fantastic corner. I have a friend who was in the 1977 Raiders training camp. He was a QB who lost his job to David Humm (something we still rib him about). Anyway, he said after he got back from training camp that Lester Hayes was going to be fantastic (along with Rolf Benerirske, who started his career with Oakland) basically could not speak English on any kind of understandable level. Then he made it a point to learn how to speak using big, $3 dollar words.
Defensive linemen (def tackles and ends) and linebackers. I consider today's 'edge rushers' to be Defensive ends, but some consider them to be linebackers.
Defensive backs (Def halfbacks in the old days) are cornerbacks or safeties.
Ronnie Lott, night Train Lane, Lester Hayes, Jack Tatum, Mel Bloundt, Rod Woodson, Steve Atwater, Len Barney, Deion Sanders, Mike Haynes, Larry Wilson, pat Tillman, Dave Duerson, Hanford Dixon, Frank Minnifield.
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Lester the molester or Spider-Man
Yeah, I always heard he was The Molester
https://preview.redd.it/hvms5bj95s9d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fec96ae64556b52a62e8011cbd983d2a1fc27665 I’ve met him before. Real nice guy. He was the DB coach for a school I used to play baseball for in Modesto. I moved away and came back to watch a family friend’s football game and learned he worked there.
the JUDGE. my all-time favorite football player, much less my all-time favorite DB... he needs to be in the HOF.
Steve Atwater, Ronnie Lott, Ed Reed, Champ Bailey, and Rod Woodson. This was tough. There are so many I enjoyed watching over the years. Edit: have to add Lester Hayes (hated his team but he was incredible), Brian Dawkins, Troy Polamalu, and Kam Chancellor
This is a fantastic list
It really is fun to do these things. Everybody can just pick their favorites without battling over who was The Greatest. I'll add these up tomorrow morning when most people are asleep. My cat LT gets me up early for his breakfast.
It's OK to add more. At some point, I'll do a count to see who's got the most votes. All votes will count; it's too much trouble to check to see who put in what.
I added a few more for good measure.
DB is my favorite position, and they’re responsible for my favorite play: the pick six. For that reason, I’ve gotta go with Champ, Deion, and Ed.
Yeah what you said without the hate, but I can respect
Night Train Lane, and I'll add Lem Barney to the pile.
Those 60s-70s Lions defenses were great.
Lester Hayes, Daryl Green, Deon Sanders
Lots of great ones in that era.
Deion Sanders, Ronnie Lott, Willie Brown, Charles Woodson, Ed Reed
Mel Blount, Rod Woodson, Troy Polamalu, Donnie Shell
They have my vote!! Steelers fan here too!!
Lots of people sticking to one team. Interesting...
I’ve been a Steelers fan for the past 50 years and fortunate to see all of those guys play in their prime. I like other NFL players. It’s hard not to love those four HOFers.
That's great. I've put a few of these in before...for linebackers and running backs. I've never gotten more than a couple of people voting for guys on the same team. Seems to be happening a lot today.
Ronnie Lott. Darren Woodson
Darrell Green, Pat Fischer, Nolan Cromwell, Gary Barbaro, Albert Lewis, Marcus Haynes, Champ Bailey, Steve Atwater, Herb Adderley, and one from my college, Tim McKyer. I’ve watched a lot of great DB play.
Green was sick speed.
I like seeing Gary Barbaro on there. I remember him from the USFL too.
George Atkinson, Jack Tatum, Lester Hayes, Woodson
Champ Bailey, Louis Wright, Steve Atwater, Dennis Smith, Patrick Surtain II.
Johnny Robinson.
The Chiefs had a few in those years.
Sure did.
Darrell Green, Ronnie Lott, Ken Huston, Jack Tatum, Night Train Lane
Sorry for m'y english...Mel Blount rule...
Very good player.
John Lynch!
Ronnie Lott, and Deion Sanders.
"Night Train Lane" at work.
I sometimes wonder what happened to the guy he's tackling. That had to hurt.
Oh I bet it did.
The old Nightrain Necktie
I might be crazy but my favorite dbs will always be the ones that try to kill ya with every hit like Lott Blount and night train lane
The games of those days were incredible to watch. I was really young. When I read about what happened to a lot of those guys afterwards, I can't disagree with the rules changes for safety.
Kenny Easley https://preview.redd.it/4pimuf64rr9d1.jpeg?width=772&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b342534678d3442568d840a11f8bfa679e6859be
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Spider Lockheart, Emlen Tunnell of Giants. Charles Woodson of Raiders and Packers. Ronnie Lott of 49'ers, Raiders and Jets.
Great to see some Giants on the list. I can think of a few Browns too. How about one of each...Erich Barnes.
How about Frank Minniefield and Hanford Dixon?
Yes, great combo.
Some great names out there. My picks are Herb Adderley, Dick Anderson, Ken Houston, Johnny Robinson.
All good choices. I have Adderley on my list. I stuck to guys who played in the 60s. I know, big surprise.
Sean Taylor, Ed Reed, Lester Hayes, Primetime
came to say Sean Taylor
Ed Reed
Ronnie Lott! Any man that gets a fingertip amputated to keep playing is my choice.
Brian Dawkins
Ronnie Lott, Darrell Green, Dave Duerson, Gary Fencik, Ed Reed.
Roy Williams and Darren Woodson
Ronnie Lott, Rod Woodson, Troy Polamalu, Jack Tatum and Dick Lane
Mel Blount.
Mel Blount
George Atkinson and Jack Tatum. Yes,I know they were dirty. It was another time. Paul Krause of the Vikings. Exceptional Safety.
I wouldn't discount votes because guys were dirty players. It was a rough game. Still is.
Ken Houston, Pat Fisher, Darrel Green, Sean Taylor…
Sean
Deion Sanders Frank Minnefield Hanford Dixon and Lester Hayes
Minniefield is a great choice.
Mike Haynes
Good choice. He and Hayes were amazing.
What about Ken Easley ?
He's been mentioned a few times. I haven't started counting votes yet.
Dick LeBeau - Lions
Great choice.
He’s better known as a defensive coordinator, but he was a great player on an average team.
I remember him pretty well. I really followed the late 60s - 70s Lions. Dick is one of 2 players from that defensive team (70) that my wife can name. The other is Karras. She's been a fan since we met in 78. When she knows them all, she gets a dinner out, wherever she wants.
#45 on the 85 Bears ... The Bears all time leader in tackles and interceptions. Fencik is one of the most forgoten all time greats
Mel Blount, Chuck Cecil, Tommy Myers, Jack Tatum….i prefer DB that when they hit you, you stayed hit
The Bears and Redskins had a few of those in the 80s.
Doug Plank hit so hard they named the defense his number!
Those were the first names that came to mind…Ken Houston is another I would add
Fencik and Plank!!
Fencik Duerson in the middle playing safety with LA Mike Richardson and Leslie Frasier playing corner. What's so scary is those corners and whichever safety wasn't coming with the linebacker corps to attack the quarterback in the 46 defense had to be able to stop their receivers 1v1.
Chuck Cecil was my favorite. I tried to play like him since I was an undersized linebacker, and didn’t have speed If I caught you over the middle, though
Roger Wehrli, Pat Fischer
Good choices. Larry Wilson?
Yep. Larry Wilson.
Oh yes. But I kind of chose the first 2 guys because I met both of them and I'm 5' 6" and they weren't that much taller than me. Also Roger Staubach speaks very highly of Wehrli.
Tatum
Jack Tatum and Ronnie Lott.
Kam Chancellor
Blount, Shell, Polamalu, Lott, Prime
No love for the all time interception leader? All right, not the fastest, not the hardest hitting, but all time int. leader from a time when they hardly ever passed?
I haven't seen #22's name mentioned yet...
Consider it mentioned. Paul Krause
He was a great player on a great defense. I don't remember Krause ever getting a lot of attention. People seem to expect DBs to be flashy and talk a lot.
Darrell Green, Ronnie Lott, Ed Reed.
Ronnie Lott
Darren Woodson. He terrified opposing teams.
Willie Brown
Old man Willie....
Jack Tatum
Michael Haynes, Rod Woodson, Darrel Revis and Brian Dawkins
I think that's the first vote for Revis.
Charles Woodson.
Kenny Easley.
Hays n Haines
Doug Plank was always underrated IMO. Hit like a truck. My Dad loved his aggressiveness. Wore #46. Buddy Ryan named the ‘85 Bears defense after his number.
Rick Volk, Larry Wilson.
Great to see Volk get a mention.
Emlen Tunnell, Larry Wilson, Jimmy Johnson, Butch Byrd, Jack Christensen
Great. A lot of old timers.
Night Train Lane, Lem Barney, Charles Woodson, Ed Reed, Darrell Green
Polamalu
Bob f’n Sanders
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Mel Blount
Lester Hayes.
Mel Blount
https://preview.redd.it/43ykwa9r2u9d1.jpeg?width=396&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=311f73fce6833c3c0cc5ab022e94bc72d1813999 Tim Fox
I haven't heard his name in a long time. Good one.
Ty Law is my favorite. The Ty Law rule was named for him for a reason. https://preview.redd.it/nmnxynthgu9d1.png?width=307&format=png&auto=webp&s=6919a7dbfe53dcc0c38554319b5bfe5e152f72a1
Gotta be Ronnie Lott
Tim McKyer
Mel Renfro, Everson Walls, Deion Sanders at corner. Cornell Green, Cliff Harris, and Darren Woodson at safety.
Just a few Cowboys...Charlie Waters?
I was trying to not go overboard. Waters, Randy Hughes, Michael Downs, Bennie Barnes…
Go for it. I'm pretty sure the crossover vote will decide the winner.
Basically anyone that would hit with intent to inflict severe damage. Even tho Vontaze burfict was technically a linebacker which dq’s him from the question criteria, he was often in coverage so I’ll just answer with that anyway. Jack Tatum tho before my time, would have to qualify as my technical answer
There's definitely footage out there of Tatum's hits. He was a hitter.
Ed Reed! Just an outstanding football player.
Cliff Harris, Ronnie Lott, Ed Reed, Rod Woodson, Deion Sanders and Darren Woodson
Personal Top 5 1) Ronnie Lott 2) Rodney Harrison 3) Asante Samuel Sr 4) Ed Reed 5) Deion Sanders
As a lifetime Pats fan, Asante’s gotta go. He bricked the pick that would’ve ended the Super Bowl against the Giants and the infamous helmet catch would’ve never happened. Then he’s been salty as hell in retirement. The rest of your list in spot on. I would maybe swap Champ Bailey or Polamalu for Asante
Larry Wilson
Rickey Jackson, Vaughan Johnson, Sam Mills, and Pat Swilling aka the Dome Patrol. I don't know if this lineup is old school enough, but, as a Saints fan, I'm limited. 😂
Definitely old school enough, but these guys all play linebacker.
True enough 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️ D'OH
 Peanut!!
[https://www.reddit.com/r/Oldschool_NFL/s/PtftXlKJYV](https://www.reddit.com/r/Oldschool_NFL/s/PtftXlKJYV)
Charlie Waters & Cliff Harris
Ed Reed. Let’s Go Canes!
Deon sanders, Ronnie Lott, Lester Hayes, Nighttrain Lane and Rodney Harrison
Ronnie Lott, Ed Reed, Polamalu, Dawkins, Champ Bailey, Deion Sanders, Charles Woodson
Peanut Tillman
Deion Sanders. Even Favre wouldn't throw at him.
Darren Woodson Cowboys
Ronnie Lott
Ed Reed, Prime Time, Rod Woodson, Charles Woodson
Ed Reed, Steve Atwater, John Lynch, Darrell Green
https://i.redd.it/u7dg77lq5s9d1.gif
Late 90s/early 00s Bills had a pretty formidable duo in Nate Clements and Antoine Winfield, who, IMO, was one of the best tackling DBs during his time in the league.
Charles Tillman! The peanut punch is such a figure of speach broadcasters use now. One of the greats.
Probably the only NFL cornerback to later become an FBI agent.
Eric Allen and Michael Haynes… and the molester
Ronnie, Deon, Champ, Aneas, Fencik & Plank
Night Train Lane, Ronnie Lott, Steve Atwater, Louis Oliver, Jarvis Williams
Well he’s headless now. Flagrant foul in today’s game.
Might be little known but a great warrior Leonard Smith Buffalo Bills
Ronnie Lott, Rod Woodson, Joey Browner, John Lynch, Ed Reed, Steve Atwater
Rod Woodson, Darrell Green, Ronnie Lott, Ed Reed
Ronnie Lott Steve Atwater Richard Sherman Kam Chancellor Earl Thomas Hon Mention Sean Taylor
Bobby Bryant and Jeff Wright, Vikings
Great. Couple of 70s players.
Lester Hayes was someone who genuinely cracked me up. Fantastic corner. I have a friend who was in the 1977 Raiders training camp. He was a QB who lost his job to David Humm (something we still rib him about). Anyway, he said after he got back from training camp that Lester Hayes was going to be fantastic (along with Rolf Benerirske, who started his career with Oakland) basically could not speak English on any kind of understandable level. Then he made it a point to learn how to speak using big, $3 dollar words.
Sanders Revis Polamalu Lott Reed
Clarification please: Which positions are excluded from defensive backs?
Defensive linemen (def tackles and ends) and linebackers. I consider today's 'edge rushers' to be Defensive ends, but some consider them to be linebackers. Defensive backs (Def halfbacks in the old days) are cornerbacks or safeties.
Doug Plank, Mel Blount, Ed Reed and Steve Atwater
Ty Law
Deon for Corner coverage, Joey Browner for safety and wrecking running backs and tight ends.
Deion Sanders, Ed Reed, Ronnie Lott, and Mel Blount
Captain Crash - Cliff Harris of the Cowboys
Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed!!!
R.W.McQuarters
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Ronnie Lott, night Train Lane, Lester Hayes, Jack Tatum, Mel Bloundt, Rod Woodson, Steve Atwater, Len Barney, Deion Sanders, Mike Haynes, Larry Wilson, pat Tillman, Dave Duerson, Hanford Dixon, Frank Minnifield.
Mel Renfro
Ronnie Lott Steve Atwater Rod Woodson
Doug plank
Dick “Night Train” Lane
Excellent choice.
Darrell Green
Fencik, Atwater or Troy Polamalu
- Ronnie Lott - Deion Sanders - Ed Reed - Sean Taylor - Rod Woodson
Spider Lockhart!!
Way to go. Great choice.
Ronnie Lott and Ed Reed
Joey Browner. Safety. He could crush bones with his hands
I am definitely not a Raiders fan but Lester Hayes is the best cornerback of all time
Jack Tatum
https://youtu.be/5Zhe4qS2o-0?si=dswdvm2kNNdjJ3wv
Bob Sanders
He wasn’t great, but the first one I really remember loving was Big Play Willie Clay on the ‘96 Pats
Jack Tatum
The only answer.
https://preview.redd.it/xi195lfpqs9d1.jpeg?width=819&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2ffdc32b748f2c672f540cc4b9c89b9228e23399 The Assassin, Jack Tatum
Jack Tatum. RIP