2014 Finalists vs. HOF LBs

Enshrinement Published on : 1/24/2014

Three of the 17 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2014 excelled as linebackers in the NFL.

First-year eligible Derrick Brooks, if elected on Feb. 1, would join Lee Roy Selmon and Warren Sapp as the only long time Buccaneers elected to the Hall of Fame.

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.

Charles Haley, who played both as a linebacker and defensive end, has more Super Bowl victories than any other player in NFL history.

Here’s a glimpse at how Brooks, Greene and Haley compare to the 23 linebackers with busts in Canton.

Player Years Games Int All Pro Pro Bowls
DERRICK BROOKS 14 224 25 6 11
KEVIN GREENE 15 228 5 2 5
CHARLES HALEY#
12 169 2 2 5
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
Dave Robinson 12 155 27 3 3
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
           
# Also a defensive end.
## Also a center winning All-NFL honors once at that position.
### Also a tackle and defensive tackle.