The eight-time Pro Bowler was also the NFL kickoff return leader in 1992. The corner needs to have the wherewithal and skillset to keep up with the top wide receivers in the league, they need to be able to blitz and sack the quarterback, a good wrap-up tackler, and try to read plays to try and anticipate where the receivers heading on a route to deflect or pick off a pass. Find out more. Despite his teams not being at the top of the leagues ladder, amazing Aeneas Williams established himself as one of the greatest cornerbacks of all time. NFL Career Leaders - Sacks. He also has seven career postseason interceptions which rank 6th all-time, three of which he returned for touchdowns which ranks second only behind Asante Samuel. Shortest NFL Players Of All Time Who Makes the Top 9 List? The three-time Super Bowl champion started his college career playing for the University of Michigan. The former college linebacker out of Grambling State used his 6-foot-1-inch frame and elite speed to perfect this technique. Broke up a school-record six passes in a game twice during the 1989 season (Vanderbilt and Southwestern. The run on talented cornerbacks continues as the Lions take Cam Smith with the 18th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/Q3m1qGXJQA. Few players in #NFL history instilled more fear in players than CB Dick Night Train LaneLanes ferocious headhunting tactics led to the banishment of the clothesline tackle. Statistically speaking, Darrelle Revis rsum isnt earth-shattering compared to other cornerbacks, but the numbers dont tell the entire story. That is a loaded question and depends on the criteria you measure them by. Tajuan Edward was born on the 10th of February in 1974 in Pennsylvania. For his career, Woodson recorded 71 interceptions (third all time) for 1,483 yards (second all time). I hope my personal story challenges other homes to have conversations with our younger generation. One of the most versatile cornerbacks of his era, Darrell Green helped Washington's franchise collect two Super Bowl titles in a four-year span. Samson, even Moses, tried to get away from what God wanted them to do. His career in the NFL kicked off in 1987 when he was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers. But God had a plan for me. That right there should be motivation to keep going no matter what profession you find yourself in. The skilled CB was selected to 12 Pro Bowls, a record at his position, and led the league in interceptions (10) in 2006. He retired from the sport back in 2014 with 908 tackles, 203 defended passes, 52 interceptions, and 7 forced fumbles. Faithfully to my community, Aeneas Williams (@aeneas35) traveled a unique path to the @ProFootballHOF.He walked on to @SouthernU_BR's football team his junior year and became a starter within 5 games, then an @NFL pro. Following his amazing success with the San Francisco 49ers, Sanders joined the Dallas Cowboys, and he remained on the team for four years until 1999. Widely considered the best CB of all time, Rod Woodson started his college football career at Purdue University. You have to be worked on, cornered in and cornered out to become as good as you can be. Then, he entered the NFL Draft in 1970 and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Our list of thetop10 cornerbacks of all timefeatures other highly successful NFL defensive players we discuss in the sections that follow, so make sure you stick around. For his career, he recorded 908 tackles, 52 interceptions (26th all time), and 203 passes defended, the most by any player in NFL history. Thank you., Ronnie Lott is one of the 6 safeties selected to the #NFL100 All-Time Team! 6x All-Pro, 10x Pro Bowl selection 4x Super Bowl Champion Career: 63 INT, 5 INT ret TD 9 playoffs INT (tied for most in NFL history) pic.twitter.com/PTYyUQEdrU. My son is only 5 years old, and aware of whats going on in our world today, Gillmore said in an Instagram post. Revis started his career playing college football at the University of Pittsburgh. #TitanUp pic.twitter.com/5dIUMcfoF1, Im proud to be from Detroit, proud of the guys that I played with, LeBeau said. Josh Norman had one of the greatest seasons of all time for a cornerback in 2015. 25 - Darius Slay + Indicates Hall of Famer, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Friday, March 3, 2:32PM. Next on the list of the greatest cornerbacks of all time, we have Mel Blount. Shortly after leaving the Steelers, Mel was hired by the leagues management in the position of the Director of Player Relations. You cant wait for somebody else to validate your purpose. When Peyton Manning thought Ty Law (3 INT'S) was one of his wide receivers in the AFCCG, sending the 2003 #Patriots to Super Bowl XXXVIII:pic.twitter.com/ypdQQlT7PT. Go back to religion after awhile away. Deion Sanders 2. Playing for Kobes favorite NFL team is a dream come true. He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, and Kansas City Chiefs. Posted by Tate Hansen | Feb 16, 2023 | NFL. He finished his career in Atlanta with 24 intercepted yards and three returned touchdowns. 1 receiver, including the likes of Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, and Calvin Johnson. He was drafted into the NFL by the New England Patriots in 1995 after signing a five-year contract. Adderley also was an elite return man once he caught an interception with 1,046 interception return yards which rank 9th all time. It was wrong in my day and it is wrong today. Not just cornerback, but any player regardless of position. Rod Woodson holds the NFL record for the most career interceptions returned for TDs (12). Sanders also briefly played for the Redskins and Ravens, before he retired in 2005. He made the change to safety in 1999 and primarily played that position while with the Ravens and Oakland Raiders, where he reached one more Super Bowl (a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003) and closed out his career. It seems that every generation of NFL players produces a lineup of elite cornerbacks, so the list of the best cornerbacks in NFL history is rather long. Sanders began his career at the Atlanta Falcons (1989-1993), then jumped to the 49ers for one season, where he helped the team win Super Bowl XXIX. By far one of the hardest positions in any sport to play, the cornerback is an essential part of any successful teams defense. Sanders also played for the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, and Baltimore Ravens before retiring from the sport in 2005. Mels superior career finished with 57 interceptions, 736 interception yards, and 2 touchdowns. From most interesting stories, games, and players to betting guides and site reviews. COPY AND PASTE . Every day our sports experts send you news, articles, picks, tips, bonuses, promotions & more. NFL films ranked Darrell Green as the fastest player to ever play in the NFL. Amazing Green also holds the NFL record for the most consecutive seasons finished with an interception (19). 15 of the Best Undrafted NFL Players If They Were All on One Team. NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah sized up some Patriots-type players in this year's draft, many who could be considered at 14th overall. After a stellar career in New York that including helping the Jets to advance to consecutive. Ty also spent one season playing for the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, and Denver Broncos. In Hebrews 11 and12, they called them great men of faith. I stayed the course. We are far from the run-of-the-mill 24/7 sports news websites. Javier Arenas (2006-09) Arenas was under the leadership of Mike Shula and Nick Saban; In his tenure at Alabama, Arenas recorded 154 tackles, seven sacks and six interceptions. He was also a member of the universitys track and field team but decided to focus more on his football career. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Weve put our handprints in it. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? They thought they were ready sooner, but they werent. Next on our list of the top 10 cornerbacks of all time, we have Aeneas Williams. I took that nugget. And now, back to the NFL after awhile away. In September 1995, Woodson tore his ACL in the season opener against the Detroit Lions. While the Arizona Cardinals achieved just one winning season during Aeneas Williams' 10-year tenure in Phoenix, he managed to stand out as one of the best cornerbacks of his time. he managed 52 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 7 pass deflections, but that wasn't all. When dreams of being able to utilize his God given skills and talents and attributes to make them manifest to make them fruits. Ronnie Lott had an incredible career that spanned 14 years. #20 of 85. 1. Lonnie Johnson Jr. did his best to have the worst rookie season of a cornerback in Houston history last yeardespite going 54th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft earning a PFF grade of just 36.0 . When the governments and schools cant cope, it is time for the rest of us to pitch in. And so I brought what my parents had taught me and what Jesus had said and I put that to work in my NFL career. Doering's stats at Wisconsin do not jump off the page but he goes down as one of the top cornerbacks for one reason, his tackling. He didnt just excel at cornerback, either. His 1,207 interception return yards are the sixth most by any player in NFL history, and his 298 interception return yards in 1952 were just three yards short of an NFL record, at the time. 20 of the Shortest NFL Players Who Proved Height, 25 of the NFLs Best Pass Rushers of All-Time, NFL Top Tens: Comparing the 10 Best NFL QBs With the. He altered his style of play and still made three more Pro Bowls, on top of the two he earned in 75 and 76. The NFL's Scouting Combine kicks off this week in . Racked up 231 career tackles, the most by any cornerback in program history. The Bengals primarily ran a 5-2 base defense under Anarumo last year but would revert to a 4-3 at times involving subpackages against triple option teams, like the Baltimore Ravens during last . Rod Woodson was born on the March 10, 1965 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Always gamble responsibly and in moderation. Build your own custom leaderboards with Stathead Football, Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. Ive been very fortunate to be around greatness this weekend. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. It takes a special kind of football player to suit up and play corner. Now more than ever, teams realize the importance of the positions, so lets look at the ten greatest to play the position. We present them here for purely educational purposes. in his own right. Today (2023), he is the head coach for the Colorado Buffaloes team. Dick Lane is easily the greatest tackling, and hardest hitting, cornerback of all time. Each quote from these players is an excerpt from their Hall of Fame enshrinement speech according to their page on the Pro Football Hall of Fame website. He was one of the main reasons behind the Cowboys winning their third Super Bowl title in a match with the Pittsburgh Steelers. From one true shutdown corner to a pair of all-purpose defensive backs, here are the top 10 cornerbacks in NFL history. Brown is seen above in Super Bowl XI, returning an interception for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings, one of the most famous images in NFL history. Remember there are no limits., Defensive backs coach Emmitt Thomas to retire after coaching 38 NFL seasons. https://t.co/vjdLeROMeG pic.twitter.com/cW3n8F1GVD, Ifeel blessed and honored to stand before you today, Thomas said. After retiring from the sport, he focused on his career in politics and the Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation he founded back in 1988. While with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1987-1996), he forced 20 fumbles and scored six defensive TDs. The #Rams have had trade talks about six-time Pro Bowl CB Jalen Ramsey and league sources now believe it's very likely Ramsey is dealt in coming weeks. He spent four seasons playing for the Atlanta Falcons and also competed for the San Francisco 49ers one season. Green is a two-time Super Bowl Champion, won the NFL Man of the Year in 1996 and won the Bart Starr Award in 1997. The one-time Super Bowl champion spent the vast majority of his professional career playing for the New York Jets. Go back home after awhile away. Aside from playing the position of cornerback, Woodson also played as a kick returner for the college team. We not only bring you whats happening in the world of sports in terms of trades and breaking news, but we also bring you the news that goes on behind the scenes, like big life moments, and so much more. The Most Likable NFL Players In 2022. Love, love for self, love for God, love for your family, love for friends, love for your coworkers, love for your community, and love for this country. I disagree because these players are fighting for some of the very things I wanted in my career. It has been written that I played the game with a lot of poise. Love you guys so much.. I thank each and every one of you for believing in me and my dreams. This is about we., I encourage each and every one of you to start with a small but great practice of believing in yourself. He played for the Ravens until his retirement in 2005. His ability to play at an elite level for as long as he did makes him a standout corner during the modern era, but his skill at shutting down some of the best receivers in the NFL places him in the top five of all time at his position. We should note that Aeneas Williams led the league in interceptions during his second season in the NFL. Adderley was a five-time first-team All-Pro, five-time NFL Champion, and a three-time Super Bowl champion. Eagles have a shot to land the top cornerback in the 2023 draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia. The only pressure there is, is the one you create, Alexander said in an Instagram post. Athletes need to be role models. When we tell you were afraid for our kids, please listen., Two things Darrell Green would always say to me that stuck with me, is your hands are great and your feet are better. He was coached by Lloyd Carr during his time at the University of Michigan. For all you cornerbacks out there, heres a recipe for success that worked for Johnson as he shared in his Hall of Fame enshrinement speech how he worked on his game off the field: I watched reels and reels of film, Johnson said. The Hall of Famer intercepted 53 passes (24th all time) for 1,331 yards (fourth all time) in his career. See, we left it on the field. A post shared by Richard Sherman (@rsherman25). In the 1998 playoffs, Williams picked off a pair of Troy Aikman passes in a 20-7 win over Dallas and pulled down a pass intended for Minnesota Vikings receiver Randy Moss in the Cardinals' 4121 loss in the Divisional Round. It took them a long time to be elevated to do the Lords work. Revis could shut down any teams No. Take a peek at his most memorable pic.twitter.com/y9laXfcSkx. The two-time Super Bowl champion made it to the First-Team All-Pro six times. They are paying attention. Cromartie is a former cornerback with the Jets with a career of 13 interceptions and two forced fumbles. His career skyrocketed during the 90s, and this is why Woodson is considered by many the best cornerback ever praised for his tackling and rushing abilities. Throughout 20 seasons in Washington, he missed just 25 games, while he amassed 54 interceptions, which he returned for 621 yards and six scores, and tallied two interceptions returned for touchdowns in the postseason. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Ty Law appears on our list of the top 10 cornerbacks of all time in the tenth place. In this list, the top 18 cornerbacks are strictly Hall of Fame players. Build your own custom leaderboards with Stathead Football. One year later, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys, with whom he triumphed in Super Bowl XXX. Who are the best cornerbacks of all time? Sportsfanbetting.com is an independent source of information for your favorite sports and online betting. Love I believe is our most motivating factor we could have in life. Well, guys like Ty Law and Darrelle Revis are on the outside looking in. And when youre one of the best at your craft, you know a thing or two about how to play your position. Terrell Buckley 1 of 51 49. Jonah, he wandered. John Ross ran a 4. . The thirty-seven-year-old Darrelle Revis was born on the Jul 14, 1985 in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. Blount was such a ferocious defender that the NFL implemented a rule change, named the "Mel Blount Rule," which eliminated contact with receivers five yards past the line of scrimmage. Join our linker program. Ronnie Lott 4. Someone once said that love was the only game in town that is not called off because of darkness and love is powerful. He finished his college playing career with 17 defended passes and 154 tackles. Top 32 cornerbacks in the NFL for the 2021 season | 1-10 In a pass-heavy league, the cornerback position has grown into one of the most important positions on the football field. He spent fourteen seasons playing in the NFL for the Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams. Once the rule was implemented, Blount still managed to have 22 interceptions in his career 57. That mark makes him the fastest defensive tackle in combine history since NFL Network . Were in the stadium and Ive talked for over 20 minutes, but were going to commercial. After all, they are our future. Ray Lewis +. Man its truly a blessing. Adderley also had good size for the position, standing an even six-foot-tall and weighing 205 pounds. And for Green, the game is bigger than just football. To my New eagles fans, ya boii is READY!!! He showed me I could be a man and walk right, the things my son talked about. + Indicates Hall of Famer, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Friday, March 3, 2:32PM. If youre in the Hall of Fame, you know you are already one of the best to ever play the game. The fifty-four-year-old (as of 2023) Aeneas Williams was born on Jan 29, 1968, in New Orleans. However, the ruling was overturned via the infamous "Tuck Rule.". As a corner, it's always advantageous to have excellent straight-line speed. The 40-yard dash times are in, and the best of this year so far is also one of the top marks in recent combine history. What three-time Super Bowl champion Ty Law did in the regular season is nothing to scoff at, but his brilliance in the postseason is what makes his career special. He also spent five seasons playing for the Detroit Lions between 1960 and 1965. Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams The longtime cornerback for the Oakland Raiders earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1998, after he posted five interceptions for 118 return yards, one defensive touchdown, two forced fumbles, and 64 tackles. What is more impressive is that 250 of those tackles were solo tackles. The best cornerback of his era, "Revis Island" is a seven time Pro Bowler and four time All-Pro. One of Woodson's most famous games came against Brady in the 2002 AFC Divisional Round, in which Woodson seemingly sealed a victory with a strip-sack of Brady late in the fourth quarter. It is not fair or pardonable for Blacks to be treated like stepchildren in Pro Football. After retiring from the sport in 1983, he was inducted into the Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame. She was working two jobs just to see if ends could see one another because they never met. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Between this season and the 2023 season, Jalen Pitre made the most tackles by a defensive back, with 99 tackles. Four-time Super Bowl champion Mel Blount helped make the Pittsburgh Steelers defense one of the most dominant in the league. Gill and Marilyn Bird modeled not only how to be a great corner, but Gil and Marilyn, thank you. He switched to free safety upon joining the Rams in 2001 and retired with 55 interceptions, nine touchdowns, five forced fumbles, and 795 tackles. I am thankful for my wife, my children, my grandchildren that are here to see this also. He entered the NFL Draft in 2007, and he was selected by the New York Jets, where he remained until 2012. In 1952, Dick "Night Train" Lane joined the Los Angeles Rams and immediately etched his name in history. Cornerback: Vontae Davis, Indianapolis Colts (2014) 93.3. But as I stand here in the huddle of greatness, I feel so much of Your spirit. He also picked off three passes in Super Bowl competition, including two thrown by Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach. No one ever dreams of getting to this spot once he comes into the NFL, if anyone ever dreams of getting into the Hall of Fame, he is having a nightmare. Heck, Im thankful Im here., Champ Bailey is officially retiring from the NFL. Dick LeBeau Joe Sargent/Getty Images You probably know the history by now. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Before joining the NFL ranks, Bailey played college football for the famed team Georgia Bulldogs. As a rookie, he led the NFL in interceptions and won Defensive Rookie of the Year. One of the most underrated positions in sports is the cornerback. Updated through the 2022 regular season. Its challenged me to become a better man, husband, father, teammate, and human being on earth.