Two of the 17 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2013 excelled primarily as linebackers in the NFL.
Senior nominee Dave Robinson, if elected on Feb. 2, would join his Green Bay Packers linebacker teammate Ray Nitschke in the Hall.
Kevin Greene’s credentials include 160 career sacks. That number can’t necessarily be compared to Hall of Fame linebackers since many played before 1982, the year in which the quarterback sack became an official NFL statistic.
Here’s a glimpse at how Greene and Robinson compare to the 22 linebackers with busts in Canton.
| KEVIN GREENE |
15 |
228 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
| DAVE ROBINSON |
12 |
155 |
27 |
3 |
3 |
| HOF LBs |
| Chuck Bednarik# |
14 |
169 |
20 |
9 |
8 |
| Bobby Bell |
12 |
168 |
26 |
8 |
9 |
| Nick Buoniconti |
14 |
183 |
32 |
7 |
8 |
| Dick Butkus |
9 |
119 |
22 |
6 |
8 |
| Harry Carson |
13 |
173 |
11 |
2 |
9 |
| George Connor## |
8 |
90 |
7 |
5 |
4 |
| Bill George |
15 |
173 |
18 |
8 |
8 |
| Jack Ham |
12 |
162 |
32 |
6 |
8 |
| Chris Hanburger |
14 |
187 |
19 |
4 |
9 |
| Ted Hendricks |
15 |
215 |
26 |
4 |
8 |
| Sam Huff |
13 |
168 |
30 |
3 |
5 |
| Rickey Jackson |
15 |
227 |
8 |
4 |
6 |
| Jack Lambert |
11 |
146 |
28 |
8 |
9 |
| Willie Lanier |
11 |
149 |
27 |
7 |
8 |
| Ray Nitschke |
15 |
190 |
25 |
3 |
1 |
| Les Richter |
9 |
112 |
16 |
2 |
8 |
| Joe Schmidt |
13 |
155 |
24 |
10 |
10 |
| Mike Singletary |
12 |
179 |
7 |
8 |
10 |
| Lawrence Taylor |
13 |
184 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
| Derrick Thomas |
11 |
169 |
1 |
3 |
9 |
| Andre Tippett |
10 |
151 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
| Dave Wilcox |
11 |
153 |
14 |
5 |
7 |
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| # Also a center winning All-NFL honors once at that position. |
| ## Also a tackle and defensive tackle. |