Bucs Nation
Arguably the most decorated position group in team history is next.
Buccaneers fans may not have been consistently spoiled in much for the better part of the last 25 years, but one spot where everyone has been consistently indulged is linebacker play.
Boasting some of the greatest of all time at the off-ball position, let’s reminisce.
No stanning necessary for Hall of Famer Mr. Derrick Brooks – of course I’m going to do it anyway.
Brooks is in the conversation for not only one of the greatest WILL linebackers of this millennium, but in all of history.
He collected all of the accolades that Lavonte David missed out on (we’ll touch on that soon), as Brooks finished as a nine-time All-Pro (first-team five times), 11-time Pro Bowler, and one-time Defensive Player of the Year. Brooks is one of only 29 players in history to have 11 Pro Bowl selections or more, and he’s one of only three off-ball linebackers to do it. He’s one of only 26 players with 9 total All-Pros or more.
He finished third all-time in solo tackles (1,300) and seventh in combined tackles (1,713). He scored seven defensive touchdowns, including six pick-6s (tied for the most all-time among off-ball linebackers). He tallied 84 passes defensed, which ties for third all-time among linebackers, and added 24 forced fumbles and 13.5 sacks.
He’s part of both the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade Team and 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. He entered the NFL Hall of Fame and the Bucs Ring of Honor in 2014, and he got his No. 55 jersey retired by the team.
It could be strongly argued no one represents the best of the Buccaneers better than Brooks, who spent his entire 14-year career in Tampa and started every game for 13 consecutive seasons. He’s the franchise’s shining star and an all-time Tampa sports great, regardless of sport.
Perhaps the most criminally underrated player of any position in the last 25 years, Lavonte David stands out as one of the greatest playmaking linebackers in NFL history. I could use this section as a soapbox for my David stump speech, but the statistics can do the talking.
David is currently fifth all-time in solo tackles with 1,111, and he’s likely to move into fourth as he needs just 25 tackles to do so. With that, he’ll be behind only Ray Lewis, London Fletcher, and Brooks.
If he forces just one fumble this year, he’ll move into a tie for top 25 all time – one of only four non-pass rushers to reside on the list. His current number of 31 is fourth among active players, and he’s the only off-ball linebacker in the top five.
His most insane stat may be his tackles for loss. David has lived in the backfield for 13 years, as his 169 total is third among active players (behind only Calais Campbell and Von Miller) and far and away the highest...
