The 20 best linebackers in the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers

When you think of the Pittsburgh Steelers, it's hard not to get a vision of a few historic linebackers. These tone-setters shaped the direction of the franchise and set a new standard in the NFL for the LB position.

Legendary players like Jack Lambert and Jack Ham were followed by dozens of impressive Steelers linebackers who kept the intensity going. Collectively, the linebacker position is one of the biggest things this franchise is known for, and they have produced tremendous results drafting and developing the position since the NFL merger.

Without their stellar leadership qualities, ferocity, consistency, and feel for the game, Pittsburgh's historic defenses would not have been the same. Many of these linebackers proved to be cornerstone players who aided the Steelers to their best seasons in franchise history.

Criteria for selection

Ranking the best linebackers in Steelers history was no easy feat. Numerous factors were considered and weighed when coming up with this all-time list. Statistics were important, though many of these linebackers played in eras when tackles and sacks were not officially recorded.

Outside of raw numbers, I considered each player's leadership qualities and intangibles at the position, as well as the longevity and consistency they offered during their careers in Pittsburgh. Memorable moments and clutch plays were also considered.

Additionally, the impact on a team's success was factored into these rankings. How these players raised the performance of the defense around them was often accompanied by postseason success. Individual accolades, such as Pro Bowl appearances and All-Pro honors were considered as well.

Defining the linebacker position is tricky. Over the years, there have been many types of 'linebackers' for the Steelers, but the roles of these positions have been very different. For these rankings, I considered all players who played inside linebacker or middle linebacker for Pittsburgh, or those whose role would represent the modern-day term, off-ball linebacker.

Because of this, most players who fall under the outside linebacker label (like Greg Lloyd and James Harrison) were included in my rankings of the best edge rushers in Steelers history.

The top 20 linebackers in Pittsburgh Steelers history

20. Loren Toews

Longevity counts for something, and Loren Toews had lots of it. Beginning his NFL career in 1973 and ending in 1983, Toews played 11 seasons at linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers. An eight-round pick in the '73 draft class, Toews worked his butt off to stick with a roster already loaded with linebacker talent.

The long-time linebacker played in the shadows of some NFL greats and only earned two starts until his fifth NFL season. In 1977, one year after Andy Russell retired, Toews finally got his chance to be a full-time starter. By the end of his career, Toews started just 59 of 149 games, but his longevity and consistency when called upon was just what the doctor ordered.

19. Henry Davis

Before Jack Ham and Jack Lambert, there was Henry Davis. The 11th-round pick of the Giants in 1968 spent his first two seasons in New York before joining the Steelers.

Davis started just five games in his first two seasons with Pittsburgh, but was one of the team's best players in 1972 and 1973. Unfortunately, a late start to his NFL career saw Davis play just six seasons in the NFL. He retired after his age-31 season in '73, but not before earning Pro Bowl honors once with the Steelers.

18. Vince Williams

Fans of all generations are familiar with the name Vince Williams. As a sixth-round pick, Williams made an impact right away -- starting 11 of 15 games during his rookie season as an early-down linebacker.

Williams was a thumper who could stop runners dead in their tracks, but his lack of coverage ability had the Steelers routinely looking for long-term options to replace him. Nothing stuck, and Williams proved too physical and too good at blitzing and defending the run not to see the football field.

Though he was a part-time player for the majority of his career, Williams proved himself as the tone-setter of the defense. In 2017, he saw a career year -- racking up 89 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, and eight sacks from the 'Buck' linebacker position. Williams started 69 of 121 games from 2013 to 2020 and played every NFL snap as a member of the Steelers.

17. Myron Pottios

Some of you might be reading the name Myron Pottios for the first time. Pottios was selected by the Steelers in the second round of the 1961 NFL Draft while also being picked by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the AFL Draft.

Pottios chose the Steelers and made the Pro Bowl during his rookie season. After missing all of year two with an arm injury, the 6'2'', 232-pound linebacker made two more Pro Bowls in 1963 and 1964. Following the '65 season, Pottios departed from the team and would go on to play eight more seasons. His Steelers career was short, but he made three Pro Bowls while starting 39 of 41 games in Pittsburgh.

16. Kendrell Bell

Kendrell Bell had one of the best rookie seasons you will ever see from an NFL linebacker. The Georgia product was selected by the Steelers with the 39th overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft and immediately proved to be one of the best players on the team.

As a rookie, Bell racked up 89 tackles and nine sacks en route to earning AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and Pro Bowl recognition. But as promising as things started, they didn't end well for Bell. The talented linebacker suffered multiple injuries that shortened his career.

In 2004, Bell appeared in just three games before signing with the Chiefs the following offseason. His lack of longevity prevents him from being higher on the all-time linebacker rankings for the Steelers.

15. Earl Holmes

Earl Holmes was Pittsburgh's fourth-round pick in the 1996 NFL Draft. After appearing in just three games as a rookie, Holmes became a prominent player on the Steelers defense in year two -- earning 96 tackles and four sacks in 16 starts.

Holmes was a tackling machine, in five years as a starting linebacker for the Steelers, he accumulated 546 tackles. In 2000, Holmes strung together a career year with 118 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, two sacks, and two forced fumbles.

Following the 2001 season, Holmes departed for Cleveland. He started 79 of 81 games for the Steelers and deserved Pro Bowl consideration in his final three seasons with Pittsburgh, though he never received this honor.

14. Bryan Hinkle

Most players to ever put on the black and gold jersey have nothing on the consistency and longevity Bryan Hinkle offered the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hinkle, a sixth-round pick in 1982, wasn't handed the starting job right away but eventually earned his keep in 1984.

At 6'1'' and 222 pounds, Hinkle was undersized for a linebacker in the '80s and '90s, but he made up for his lack of elite size with quickness and instincts in pass protection. The talented linebacker compiled 15 interceptions in 12 seasons with the Steelers while starting 116 of 163 games.

13. Robin Cole

In an effort to replace Andy Russell, the Steelers spent the 21st overall pick in the first round on Robin Cole in the 1977 NFL Draft. Though Cole didn't wow the organization early in his career, he proved to be an excellent football player over the years.

His arrival to the organization came just in time to help Pittsburgh to their third and fourth Super Bowl titles. However, Cole's best play didn't come until the mid-80s. From 1982 to 1986, Cole was at his NFL peak, and he was voted to the Pro Bowl in '84.

Cole played for the Steelers for 11 years before signing with the Jets for one final season in 1988. He started 131 of 166 games for Pittsburgh.

12. David Little

Robin Cole wasn't alone on defense. He had some excellent counterparts to work with. One of those players was David Little. Little was selected by the Steelers in the seventh round of the 1981 NFL Draft. After serving in a minor role in his first three seasons, Little became a starting linebacker for Pittsburgh and never looked back.

From 1984 to 1992, Little started 126 of 138 games for the Steelers. He took his performance to the next level at 29 years old in 1988. Two years later, Little earned his lone Pro Bowl. Despite his late-round draft status, Little defied the odds to become one of the most important pieces of Pittsburgh's defense in the '80s and early '90s.

11. Hardy Nickerson

Hardy Nickerson was a fifth-round pick in the 1987 NFL Draft. After primairly playing special teams as a rookie, Nickerson was poised for a much bigger role in year two when he racked up 99 tackles in 15 games (10 starts).

Nickerson steadily improved in each of his five seasons with the Steelers, and his performanced warrranted Pro Bowl consideration in 1992 before his departure from the team in 1993. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, was a much better player on his second team, where he earned five Pro Bowls and two First-Team All-Pro honors with the Buccaneers.

Still, Nickerson was a pivotal player for his final three seasons in Pittsburgh. He started 61 of 84 games for the Steelers and recorded 426 tackles.

10. Chad Brown

Chad Brown was a player that I almost included on the list of Pittsburgh's top edge rushers. For most of his outstanding NFL career, Brown's primary objective was to get after the quarterback. However, Brown spent three of his four seasons in Pittsburgh as an inside linebacker.

In his second season, Brown racked up 119 tackles to go with 8.5 sacks. At 6'2'' and 245 pounds, Brown had impressive versatility for his size and the ability to win in space. Brown proved to have an excellent NFL career that lasted 15 seasons. His best year for the Steelers came with All-Pro honors when he made the switch to outside linebacker in 1996.

9. Ryan Shazier

At 6'1'' and 230 pounds, Ryan Shazier could fly. The Ohio State product ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at his Pro Day prior to the 2014 NFL Draft. Shazier was a sporadic player early in his career and his aggressive play style led to injuries that kept him off the field.

By his third season, Shazier had established himself as one of the best linebackers in the NFL, and his performance against the Bengals in the playoffs is one of the single-best games you will ever see from a linebacker.

Tragically, Shazier suffered a career-ending spinal injury 12 games into his 2017 season, which impaired his ability to walk. The talented linebacker was just 25 years old when he played his final snaps. He started 41 of 46 games and earned two Pro Bowls.

8. Larry Foote

Long before T.J. Watt's iconic leg kick celebration, we had the Larry Foote stomp (with a last name like that, it would be a crime not to use your foot as part of your celebration). Foote was Pittsburgh's fourth-round pick in the 2002 NFL Draft.

The Michigan product eventually earned the chance to become a full-time starter in his third season in 2004. His emergence couldn't have come at a better time, as Foote proved to be a key defensive contributor in the Steelers' Super Bowl era of the 2000s.

Though he was never recognized as a Pro Bowl linebacker, Foote played 11 of 13 NFL seasons in Pittsburgh and helped his team to a pair of Super Bowl victories. His physicality and aggressive play aided a historic Steelers defense.

7. Mike Merriweather

The Steelers had a number of excellent linebackers in the 1980s, but Mike Merriweather is the greatest of the group. The third-round pick in the 1982 NFL Draft was a starter by year two and a Pro Bowler by year three.

From 1983 to 1987, Merriweather was one considered one of the best and most consistent linebackers in the NFL. Unfortunately, Merriweather missed the entire 1988 season due to a contract dispute before signing with the Minnesota Vikings.

Merriweather finished his Steelers career with 76 starts in 85 games and had no shortage of splash plays with 31 sacks and 11 interceptions in six seasons.

6. Lawrence Timmons

For my money, Lawrence Timmons was one of the most criminally underrated players in Pittsburgh Steelers' history. Despite being the epitome of consistency, Timmons was routinely snubbed in Pro Bowl voting, though he did eventually make a Pro Bowl in 2014 and was named Second-Team All-Pro.

The 2007 first-round pick transitioned from an edge rusher at Florida State to a full-time inside linebacker by his third NFL season. The mild-mannered linebacker was an outstanding tackler during his Steelers career -- racking up 983 tackles and 66 tackles for a loss.

Timmons played 10 seasons for Pittsburgh and earned a Super Bowl ring with the team early in his career in 2008. He started 126 of 158 games while chipping in 35.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, 43 passes defended, and 12 interceptions.

5. Levon Kirkland

I have vivid memories of watching Levon Kirkland barrel roll over ball carriers after the play was ruled dead. At 6'1'' and 270 pounds, Kirkland had one of the most interesting builds you will see for an NFL linebacker, but he used his weight to his advantage as a run defender.

Runners would stop dead in their tracks after running into Kirkland, and he lived to play physical football near the line of scrimmage. Pittsburgh's second-round pick in 1992 recorded six seasons with the Stelers of at least 100 tackles.

Kirkland's best years came in back-to-back seasons in 1996 and 1997 when he combined for 239 tackles, nine sacks, and six interceptions en route to a pair of Pro Bowls and First-Team All-Pro honors in '97. Kirkland started 124 of 144 games over nine years in Pittsburgh.

4. Andy Russell

Andy Russell has one of the best success stories in Steelers' history. As a 16th-round pick in the 1963 NFL Draft, Russell impressed enough to start 13 of 14 games as a rookie while earning three interceptions.

However, Russell missed the entire 1964 and 1965 seasons on a military deployment in Germany. The Army lieutenant returned to the Steelers at 25 years old in 1966 and resumed his starting role. Outside of his military deployment, Russell never missed a game of the 12 seasons he suited up for Pittsburgh.

Russell defied the odds to become a seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker and helped the Steelers earn their first two Lombardi Trophies before his retirement following the 1976 season.

3. James Farrior

There's no question the New York Jets regret not keeping James Farrior after his rookie contract. The eighth overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft, Farrior lived up to his reputation and then some.

Farrior was one of the best players on the team during Pittsburgh's Super Bowl runs of the 2000s. In 2008 at 33 years old, the long-time team captain earned his second Pro Bowl to go with Second-Team All-Pro honors. Farrior started all 154 games with the Steelers over 10 years and was a cornerstone to one of the NFL's all-time best defenses.

2. Jack Ham

The final two names on the list are up for debate, as both are in a legendary category that few NFL linebackers will ever see. Jack Ham was Pittsburgh's second-round pick in 1971. In a re-draft, he wouldn't make it out of the top five picks.

Ham recorded seven interceptions in his second NFL season and somehow missed the Pro Bowl. He would have the last laugh. The extraordinary linebacker would earn eight straight Pro Bowls from 1973 to 1980. Even more impressive is being named First-Team All-Pro for six consecutive seasons from '74 to '79.

Ham was never named the AP Defensive Player of the Year, but he finished top five in DPOY voting twice. he started 160 of 162 NFL games over 12 years while snatching an astounding 32 interceptions from the linebacker position. Ham started and finished his Hall of Fame career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

1. Jack Lambert

Jack Lambert is one of the most recognizable and iconic players in the history of the NFL. At 6'4'' and 220 pounds with a missing pair of front teeth, Lambert was every offense's worst nightmare.

The Kent State product was selected by Pittsburgh in the second round of the historic 1974 NFL Draft. He took the football world by storm -- running away with AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Lambert earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his next nine seasons while being voted First-Team All-Pro six times.

His 1976 season was one of the best we've ever seen from an NFL linebacker, as Lambert forced eight fumbles and picked off two passes while winning the Defensive Player of the Year award by a landslide and finishing second in MVP voting.

If the Steelers had a Mount Rushmore, Lambert's face would be chiseled in stone as one of the best to ever play for the franchise. The legendary linebacker was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990 with flying colors. We may never see a Pittsburgh linebacker top him in the all-time rankings.

The 20 best linebackers in Steelers history by Approximate Value (AV)

Approximate Value is a metric from Pro Football Reference that attaches a number to every player season since 1960. AV is not recorded before 1960.